Senir Research Scientist, Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak

Biograph
Eva Tvrdá gained her Master title in Biotechnologies, followed by a PhD in Molecular Biology at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia. She works as a senior research scientist at the Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. At the same time, she is the head of the Laboratory for Andrology and Molecular Toxicology at the AgroBioTech Research Center. She has published over 100 articles and 8 book chapters on the topics of male reproduction, reproductive toxicology, oxidative balance and antioxidants.
Dr. Eva Tvrdá is a former Sciex MNSch and Fulbright fellow, member for the European Federation of Animal Science and the Association for Applied Animal Andrology.

Speech Title: ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS AS A POSSIBLE MODULATOR OF TESTICULAR STEROIDOGENESIS

Abstract: This study assessed the possible in vitro effects of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) extract on the steroidogenesis in testicular tissue. Specifically, we focused to identify major chemical components of the dill extract followed by a comprehensive evaluation of its in vitro effects on the production of cholesterol, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and testosterone by rat testicular fragments. Dill extracts were subjected to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which identified cyranosid, carvone, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and salicylic acid among the most dominant chemical components of the plant material. For the in vitro experiments, testicular fragments from 12 sexually mature Wistar rats were incubated in the absence (control group) or presence of the dill extract at various doses (10, 100 and 1000 μg/mL) for 24 h. Cholesetrol levels were quantified via photometry and the hormones were evaluated by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Our data showed that the release of cholesterol and androstenedione (but not dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone) by the testicular fragments was significantly affected by the dill extract in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to the extract led to a significant decrease of both cholesterol as well as androstenedione (P<0.01 in case of 10 μg/mL; P<0.001 with respect to 100 and 1000 μg/mL extract). Our results suggest that the bioactive molecules present in Anethum graveolens L. could have dose-dependent impact on the secretion of selected male reproductive hormones, playing a role in the regulation of testicular steroidogenesis.

Key words: Anethum graveolens L., testes, rats, steroidogenesis