Evaluation of the in vivo effect of chitosan conjugated eurycomanone nanoparticles on the reproductive response in female fish model

Abstract Eurycomanone (EN), a quassinoid present in E. longifolia plants acts as a testosterone booster in male animals. The present study was aimed to explore the role of EN in females using fish as model organism. Chitosan nano-conjugated EN nanoparticles were synthesised and tested for their role in reproductive response in female catfish. Three injections of the formulation were given for a period of 21 days and the mRNA expression profile of important genes as well as serum hormones involved in steroid hormone synthesis were evaluated. In gonads, the mRNA expression of genes was upregulated except CYP19a1 (aromatase), that significantly decreased in the treatment groups. The hormone genes, FSH-β and LH-β mRNA levels in brain were upregulated whereas CYP19a2 was sharply downregulated following treatments. The testosterone varied non-significantly while the estradiol-17β serum hormone was significantly diminished. The effect was sustained in chitosan conjugated treatments compared to EN alone. The Gonadosomatic index (GSI) varied non-significantly in different treatments and control. In treatment groups, histological analysis showed the ovarian follicles in the regressed phase. Analysis of the results of the undertaken research leads to conclusion that that EN may not be beneficial for female reproduction due to its obstructive role in estrogenic production.