Effect of Gundelia Tournefortii leaves extract on in immature mouse oocytes

Background & Aim: Considering that antioxidants are known as effective free radicals scavenger, it may be able to improve the in vitro oocyte maturation and the fetal quality. This study was designed to determine the effect of Gundelia Tournefortii leaves (GTE) hydro alcoholic extract as a source of antioxidant on in vitro oocyte maturation. Experimental: Germinal vasicle (GV) were recovered from 6-8 weeks old NMRI ovaries. GV were cultured for 24 hours in maturation medium in MEMα supplemented with 7.5IU/ml hCG, 100mIU/ml rhFSH, 5% FCS (control group) and adding different doses of GTE extract (10μg/ml: group 1, 20 μg/ml: group 2, 40 μg/ml: group 3) and then in vitro maturation stages and resumption of meiotic in all groups was recorded by inverted microscope. Results: In group 1, maturation rates were improved compared to the control group. But this difference was not significant. In group 2, maturation rates showed a significant increase compared to the control group (p<0/05). In group 3, also maturation rates showed a significant increase compared to the control group (p<0/05). Recommended applications/industries: The results of this study showed that the Gundelia Tournefortii leaves extract, has a positive effect on oocyte maturation that is doses dependent. So with increasing concentration of Gundelia Tournefortii extract, the rate of maturation immature oocytes is increased. Generally, we conclude that addition of appropriate amounts of natural extracts such as Gundelia Tournefortii to maturation medium improves oocytes maturation.