title: Myricitrin and bioactive extract of Albizia amara leaves: DNA protection and modulation of fertility and antioxidant-related genes expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Albizia species are reported to exhibit many biological activities including antiovulatory properties in female rats and antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities in male rats.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigates the flavonoids of Albizia amara (Roxb.) B. Boivin (Fabaceae) leaves and evaluates their activity on gene expression of fertility and antioxidant glutathione-S-transferase-related genes of treated female mice in addition to their effect on DNA damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plant materials were extracted by using 70% methanol for 48 h, the extract was chromatographed on a polyamide 6S column, each isolated compound was purified by using Sephadex LH-20 column; its structure was elucidated by chemical and spectral methods. Both the leaves extract and myricitrin (200, 30 mg/kg bw/d, respectively) were assayed for their effect on DNA damage in female mice after four weeks treatment using Comet assay. Their modulatory activity on gene expression of fertility (aromatase CYP19 and luteinizing hormone LH) and antioxidant glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-related genes of treated female mice were investigated by real-time PCR (qPCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quercetin-3-O-gentiobioside, myricitrin, quercetin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol were isolated and identified from the studied taxa. Myricitrin and the extract induced low rate of DNA damage (4.8% and 5%, respectively), compared with the untreated control (4.2%) and significantly down-regulated the expression of CYP19 and LH genes and up-regulated GST gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results highlight the potential effect of the leaves extract of Albizia amara and myricitrin as fertility-regulating phytoconstituents with ability to protect DNA from damage and cells from oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mona El Said
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kassem
authors.affiliation: a Department of Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Lamya Fawzy
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Sameh Reda
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: a Department of Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Reham
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El-Sharawy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Ansari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cell Biology , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahrousa Mohamed
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hassanane
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cell Biology , National Research Centre , Dokki , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Hoda Fahime
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Booles
mesh_terms: D031289:Albizzia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000072496:Cytochrome P450 Family 19 / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C008577:myricitrin; D000072496:Cytochrome P450 Family 19; D005982:Glutathione Transferase
keywords: CYP19; Comet assay; Fabaceae; GST; LH; flavonoids; gene regulation