Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Morroniside Protects Human Granulosa Cells against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage by Regulating the Nrf2 and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Researchers found that morroniside protects human ovarian granulosa cells from oxidative damage by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and reducing apoptosis through regulation of p38 and JNK signaling pathways.

2022 Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract against uranyl acetate-induced testicular dysfunction in rats

Researchers found that Moringa oleifera leaf extract protected rats from testicular damage caused by uranyl acetate, a toxic uranium compound, by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress. While focused on uranium toxicity, the protective mechanisms studied are relevant to microplastics research because microplastics also cause testicular damage through oxidative stress in animal studies. Natural antioxidants like those in Moringa may help protect reproductive health from environmental pollutants.

2024 Scientific Reports 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Allantoin Derived From Dioscorea opposita Thunb Ameliorates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Premature Ovarian Failure in Female Rats by Attenuating Apoptosis, Autophagy and Pyroptosis

Researchers studied whether allantoin, a compound from a Chinese yam species, could protect female rats from ovarian damage caused by the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide. They found that allantoin treatment reduced ovarian cell death through multiple protective pathways and helped preserve ovarian function. While this study does not involve microplastics, it contributes to understanding how natural compounds may help protect reproductive health from toxic chemical exposures.

2023 Cureus 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Omaveloxolone Prevents Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Ovarian Granulosa Cell Apoptosis via the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in Rats

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics for 90 days and found significant oxidative damage and cell death in ovarian tissue. They discovered that the drug omaveloxolone could protect against this damage by activating a cellular defense pathway called Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to reproductive health, but also identifies a potential protective mechanism worth further investigation.

2024 Molecular Biotechnology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Aging: Potential Mechanism and Protective Strategies

This review explores how the Nrf2 signaling pathway, a key defense system against oxidative stress, plays a role in ovarian aging, which leads to menopause, reduced fertility, and health risks like osteoporosis. While not focused on microplastics specifically, the Nrf2 pathway is one of the main systems that microplastics disrupt when they accumulate in reproductive tissues. Understanding this pathway helps explain how environmental pollutants like microplastics could accelerate ovarian aging and harm fertility.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 36 citations
Article Tier 2

P-266 Profiling redox effects induced by micro-nanoplastics in the female reproductive system: insights from human granulosa cells

Researchers showed that nano- and microplastics are taken up by human granulosa cells and cause changes in viability, energy production, and antioxidant responses. The findings provide early evidence that plastic particles can interfere with cellular redox balance in the female reproductive system.

2024 Human Reproduction 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nobiletin Ameliorates Aging of Chicken Ovarian Prehierarchical Follicles by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Promoting Autophagy

This study investigated a plant compound called nobiletin (found in citrus fruits) as a treatment for age-related decline in chicken egg production caused by follicle aging. While focused on poultry science rather than microplastics, the research is relevant because it demonstrates how antioxidants can counteract oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage -- the same types of cellular harm that microplastics and nanoplastics have been shown to cause in various tissues.

2024 Cells 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigative potential of kaempferide against polyethylene microplastics induced testicular damage by activating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

Researchers tested whether kaempferide, a natural plant compound with antioxidant properties, could protect against testicular damage caused by polyethylene microplastics in rats. They found that the microplastics triggered significant oxidative stress and tissue damage in the testes, but kaempferide treatment substantially reduced these harmful effects by activating a key protective cellular pathway. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may help counteract some of the reproductive harm associated with microplastic exposure.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Quercetin alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in mice by reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress and pyroptosis in granulosa cells

Researchers found that quercetin, a natural plant compound, protected mouse ovaries from chemotherapy-induced damage by reducing harmful oxidative stress in mitochondria and suppressing a form of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis, suggesting it could help preserve fertility in patients undergoing cancer treatment.

2022 Journal of Ovarian Research 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of possible attenuative role of chrysoeriol against polyethylene microplastics instigated testicular damage: A biochemical, spermatogenic and histological study

Researchers investigated whether the plant compound chrysoeriol could protect against testicular damage caused by polyethylene microplastics in a rat model. The study found that microplastic exposure reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased inflammation markers, while co-administration of chrysoeriol showed a protective effect by mitigating oxidative stress and preserving sperm quality.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of polyethylene microplastics toxicity using Nrf2/ARE and MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathways

Researchers exposed male and female rats to varying doses of polyethylene microplastics and found dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress markers and disruptions to reproductive hormone levels. They identified specific cellular signaling pathways, including the Nrf2 antioxidant response system, that were affected by microplastic exposure. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may trigger oxidative damage and reproductive effects through identifiable molecular mechanisms.

2025 Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective role of poncirin against polyethylene microplastics instigatedcardiac toxicity via regulating Nrf2/keap1 pathway

Researchers found that exposing rats to polyethylene microplastics caused significant heart damage — including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death — by disrupting the Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway. Supplementing with poncirin, a natural plant flavonoid, substantially protected cardiac tissue by restoring antioxidant activity, suggesting a potential protective role against microplastic-induced heart toxicity.

2024 Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Sakuranetin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced nephrotoxic effects via modulation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics caused kidney damage in rats by increasing oxidative stress and disrupting a key protective cellular pathway. However, when the natural plant compound sakuranetin was administered alongside the microplastics, it significantly reduced the kidney damage by restoring antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that certain natural compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on organ health.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Narirutin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics induced nephrotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation and Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Researchers investigated whether narirutin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could protect kidneys from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. The study suggests that microplastic exposure triggered significant kidney stress through oxidation and inflammation, but narirutin helped reduce that damage by activating protective cellular pathways.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Rhamnetin alleviates polystyrene microplastics-induced testicular damage by restoring biochemical, steroidogenic, hormonal, apoptotic, inflammatory, spermatogenic and histological profile in male albino rats

Researchers studied whether the plant compound rhamnetin could protect against testicular damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. Microplastic exposure caused significant harm to sperm quality, hormone levels, and testicular tissue through oxidative stress and inflammation. Co-treatment with rhamnetin restored many of these markers, suggesting it may help counteract some of the reproductive harm associated with microplastic exposure.

2023 Human & Experimental Toxicology 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in ovarian function and ozone-based mitigation strategies: Emerging evidence and translational implications

This review synthesized emerging evidence that microplastics accumulate in human follicular fluid, oocytes, placenta, and semen, causing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and meiotic disruption in reproductive cells, and discussed ozone-based strategies as potential mitigation approaches.

2025 Current Research in Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Astragalus Polysaccharides Ameliorate the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Boar Sperm

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can damage sperm cells by causing harmful chemical reactions, but a natural compound from the Astragalus plant can help protect against this damage. This study used pig sperm in lab dishes, so we don't know yet if the same protection would work in humans. The findings matter because microplastics are everywhere in our environment and food, and this research suggests natural antioxidants might help reduce their potential harm to reproductive health.

2026 Acta Veterinaria Eurasia
Article Tier 2

Flavonoids Mitigate Nanoplastic Stress in Ginkgo biloba

This plant study found that nanoplastics caused growth problems, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in Ginkgo biloba and other plant species. The plants responded by producing more flavonoids (natural protective compounds) to fight the plastic-induced stress. While this is a plant study, it shows how nanoplastics can disrupt biological systems and highlights the broad environmental reach of plastic pollution.

2024 Plant Cell & Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics cause granulosa cells apoptosis and fibrosis in ovary through oxidative stress in rats

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations for 90 days and examined the effects on their ovaries. The study found that microplastic exposure caused cell death and tissue scarring in the ovaries through oxidative stress, suggesting that microplastics may have implications for female reproductive health.

2020 Toxicology 415 citations
Article Tier 2

OX-LDL promotes insufficient autophagy and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells through regulation ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

This study investigated how oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) triggers cell death in ovarian granulosa cells through oxidative stress pathways. The research identified specific molecular signaling cascades involved in follicle cell damage. While not directly about microplastics, oxidative stress pathways of the type studied here are also activated by microplastic exposure, making this relevant to understanding plastic-related reproductive health risks.

2023 Journal of Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports
Article Tier 2

Galangin attenuates oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in high glucose-induced renal tubular epithelial cells through modulating renin–angiotensin system and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Researchers found that a plant compound called galangin protected kidney cells from damage caused by high blood sugar by reducing oxidative stress and activating protective signaling pathways. While focused on diabetes treatment, this research is not directly related to microplastic contamination.

2021 Toxicology Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Geraniol modulation of oxidative stress caused by polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics in HEK-293 cell line

Researchers tested whether geraniol, a natural plant compound, could protect human kidney cells (HEK-293) against oxidative stress caused by polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics, finding that geraniol significantly reduced nanoplastic-induced cellular damage.

2025 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
Article Tier 2

Protective Effect of Astragaloside IV against Cadmium-Induced Damage on Mouse Renal Podocytes (MPC5)

This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates how the plant compound Astragaloside IV protects kidney cells from cadmium-induced damage, examining mitochondrial and autophagy pathways.

2023 Molecules
Article Tier 2

The Antioxidative Action of ZTP by Increasing Nrf2/ARE Signal Pathway

This study investigated the antioxidant properties of a compound called ZTP and its ability to protect against oxidative stress in brain tissue. While focused on neuroprotection rather than microplastics, oxidative stress is one of the primary mechanisms by which microplastics are thought to cause cellular damage.

2019 Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 5 citations