Chemical composition and effects of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil (OGEO) on the expression of mRNA for antioxidant enzymes during in vitro culture of bovine ovarian secondary follicles

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed the chemical composition of OGEO and its effects on growth, viability, antrum formation and mRNA expression for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro. The follicles were cultured in TCM-199+ alone or supplemented with 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50% OGEO for 18 days. Follicle diameters, viability, antrum formation and the levels of mRNA for SOD, CAT, GPX1 and PRDX6 in cultured follicles  were evaluated. The results showed that the main components of OGEO were Eugenol and 1.8-Cineol. The follicles cultured with OGEO maintained morphology, viability and growth similar to the control group. Interestingly, follicles cultured with 0.5% or 0.25% OGEO had, respectively, higher levels of mRNAs for PRDX6 and CAT than those cultured in control medium. In conclusion, OGEO increases mRNA expression for PRDX6 and CAT in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro.

KEYWORDS:

• antioxidant
• essential oil
• preantral follicles
• bovine
• in vitro culture

Acknowledgments

The authors thank National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil, Process No. 308737/2018-0) and CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel). E.M. Vasconcelos is recipient of scholarship from CAPES, Brazil.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the CNPQ [308737 / 2018-0].