Ovarian aging is the process of decline in ovarian reserve, endocrine function with age, leading to reduced fertility and increased risk of various related diseases. In recent years, medicine food homology (MFH) species have attracted much attention for their potential to delay ovarian aging due to their dietary and medicinal values. In this review, we have focused on the intervention of MFH species and active ingredients on ovarian aging, with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involved in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, apoptosis inhibitory, balance of autophagy, maintenance of genome stability, mitochondrial function protective and estrogen-like effects through multiple signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K/Akt, Nrf2/HO-1, SIRT1/mTOR, Nrf2/ARE, etc.). Possessing the characteristics of multi-pathway and multi-target effects, MFH species and active ingredients provide new ideas for the research and development of health food and functional preparations. High-quality clinical studies are still needed for verification.

ObjectiveTo investigate the molecular mechanism by which He’s Yangchao Decoction (HSYC) improves ovarian function in a mouse model of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).MethodsForty ICR mice were used to establish a POI model via intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide and were randomly assigned to four groups: model control group, low-dose HSYC group, high-dose HSYC group, and estradiol group (positive control). Additionally, 10 age-matched ICR mice were selected as the blank control group. After intragastric intervention, the ovarian index, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and ovarian tissue expression of the FSH receptor (FSHR) were measured. A POI cell model was established by treating the human granulosa tumor cell line (KGN) with 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide. The cells were divided into four groups: solvent control group, HSYC group, inhibitor control group, and inhibitor+HSYC group, which were respectively treated with TH5487 (an OGG1 inhibitor) and HSYC-containing serum. The expressions of OGG1, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) oxidative damage markers, and pyroptosis-related proteins were detected by molecular docking, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence.ResultsCompared with the blank control group, the model control group showed a decreased ovarian index (P<0.05) and increased serum FSH levels (P<0.01). The ovarian index was higher in both the low- and high-dose HSYC groups compared with the model control group (both P<0.05). FSHR expression in ovarian tissue was lower in the model control group than that in the blank control group, but was higher in the high-dose HSYC group compared with the model control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinity between the active components of HSYC and OGG1 (binding energy: －6.3 to －8.3 kcal/mol). Western blotting analysis revealed that OGG1 protein expression in the ovaries of the model control group was significantly reduced compared with the blank control group, while it was increased in the low-dose HSYC group and the estradiol group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Immunofluorescence results demonstrated that the expression levels of mito-chondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) were decreased in the model control group compared with the blank control group (P<0.01), whereas their expressions were significantly elevated in the high-dose HSYC group and the estradiol group (all P<0.01). Cell experiments showed that TH5487 intervention increased the expression of 8-oxoguanine (8-OxoG) (P<0.01), while HSYC-containing serum intervention reduced 8-OxoG expression and increased TFAM expression (P<0.01). The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins (GSDMD, N-GSDMD, caspase-1, IL-1β) increased after TH5487 intervention (P<0.05), whereas HSYC-containing serum suppressed their expression (all P<0.05).ConclusionHSYC improves POI by upregulating OGG1 expression, mitigating mtDNA oxidative damage, and inhibiting granulosa cell pyroptosis.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widely distributed and persistent in the environment. They can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and their potential effects on female reproductive health have drawn increasing attention. Oocytes are central to female reproductive function. However, the mechanisms underlying MNP toxicity to oocytes, as well as their intergenerational and transgenerational effects, remain poorly understood. This review searched databases such as PubMed and Web of Science. By integrating evidence from diverse animal models and human samples, it summarizes the potential effects of MNPs on oocytes and the related molecular mechanisms. The findings indicate that MNPs may impair oocyte development via oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic modifications. These processes are associated with changes in the Wnt/β-catenin, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) signaling pathways, and are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, meiotic defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and impaired oocyte maturation. Animal studies further suggest that maternal exposure to MNPs may impair offspring development and reproductive function. However, evidence for true transgenerational effects remains limited. Notably, most existing evidence comes from animal studies, many of which used standardized polystyrene (PS) particles. Although MNPs have been detected in human biological samples, their actual effects on human reproductive health remain to be clarified. Graphical

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism by which He’s Yangchao Formula improves ovarian function in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) mice through intestinal flora modulation. Methods Forty female ICR mice (aged 6–8 weeks) were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg) to establish a POI model, while 10 untreated mice served as the blank control. Successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=10/group): low-dose He’s Yangchao Formula (6 g crude herb/kg), high-dose He’s Yangchao Formula (25 g crude herb/kg), positive control (estradiol), and model control (distilled water). Treatments were admin-istered daily by gavage for 6 weeks. Vaginal exfoliated cells were stained with Wright-Giemsa solution to monitor estrous cycles. Serum estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured by ELISA. Ovarian FSH receptor (FSHR) expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Glycolysis-related proteins pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) were analyzed by Western blotting and immuno-fluorescence. Fecal samples from blank control, model control, and high-dose groups underwent metagenomic sequencing to evaluate intestinal microbiota diversity and com-position. Results He’s Yangchao Formula restored estrous cyclicity, increased serum estradiol (P<0.05), decreased serum FSH (P<0.05), and upregulated FSHR expression in granulosa cells (P<0.05). Metagenomic analysis revealed significant structural differences in intestinal flora among blank control, model control, and high-dose groups (P<0.01). The high-dose group showed reduced abundance of conditional pathogens (e.g., Alistipes, Prevotella, Odoribacter, Blautia, Rikenella) compared to the model control (P<0.05). Functional enrichment analysis indicated involvement of glycolysis-related pathways. Concordantly, PKM2 and GLUT4 expression was downregulated in the model control but upregulated in He’s Yangchao Formula groups (P<0.05). Conclusions He’s Yangchao Formula ameliorates POI in mice by remodeling intestinal flora structure, enhancing glycolytic activity, improving ovarian sex hormone secretion, increasing granulosa cell FSHR expression, and restoring estrous cyclicity.

Accumulated evidence has shown that the antioxidant diet exhibits protective effects on women’s reproductive health. The Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) serves as a crucial indicator for assessing antioxidant-rich diets. However, the relationship between CDAI and menopause age as well as reproductive lifespan remains unclear. In this cross-sectional analysis, we investigated these associations using data from 4514 post-menopausal women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. Analyses incorporated sampling weights and design variables to address its complex survey structure, ensuring nationally representative results Information on age at menopause and reproductive lifespan was derived from questionnaire data. The CDAI was calculated based on the intake of selenium, zinc, carotenoid, Vitamin A, C and E. Multiple linear regression, smooth curve fitting, threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analysis were used to investigate the association between the CDAI and age at menopause as well as reproductive lifespan. After adjusting for age, race, BMI and other confounding factors, our findings revealed that higher CDAI was associated with a later age at menopause (β = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.02–0.15, P = 0.013) and longer reproductive lifespan (β = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.04–0.18, P = 0.001). A nonlinear threshold effect was identified, with an inflection point at CDAI = 1.05. Below this threshold, each unit increase in CDAI was associated with a 0.24-year delay in menopause (β = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.09–0.39, P = 0.002), but this effect was not observed above this point. Additionally, each standard deviation increase in CDAI was associated with a 4% decrease in early menopause risk (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92-1.00, P = 0.048). The use of oral contraceptives and female hormones modified these relationships. Our research highlighted a positive non-linear association between CDAI and age at menopause, as well as reproductive lifespan, emphasizing the potential clinical relevance of dietary antioxidant optimization within specific thresholds.

Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) has been reported to improve implantation and pregnancy rates, yet its efficacy and safety profile require rigorous evaluatio