Name of Spice

Impact on female reproductive system

Reference

Mugwort

(Artemisia vulgaris)

- Statistically significant decrease in successful implantation rate (dose-dependent)

- Statically significant increase in uterine weight (dose-dependent)

- Improved implantation in females through moxibustion

Mok [7]

Shaik, et al. [6]

Dong quai

- Pro-estrogenic effect providing management of pre-menstrual symptoms such as breast swelling/tenderness, bloating, headache, dysmenorrhea

- Demonstrated to provide relief of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes

Bain [8]

Dillard [9]

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

- Statistically significant dose-dependent anti-implantation effect

- Associated with a decrease in progesterone, with possible abortifacient effect

- Alternatively, exhibited to promoted fertility in a dose-dependent fashion in obese female rats

Abdoon, et al. [12]

Mahleyuddin, et al. [10]

Clove

(Syzygium aromaticum) 

- Decreased ratio of luteinizing hormone/ follicular stimulating hormone and testosterone

- Produced less oxidative stress markers and allowed for greater inhibition of autophagy; thereby, mitigating diagnostic markers of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Soltani, et al. [13]

White wormwood (Artemisia herba alba)

- Time-dependent reduction in viable pregnancies with no significant effect after four weeks, but a significant reduction in pregnancies after twelve weeks

Matsabisa, et al. [14]

Mohamed, et al. (2010)

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)

- Polycystic ovarian syndrome affected mouse models had adequate restoration of a regular menstrual cycle, improved ovarian morphology, and decreased luteinizing and follicular stimulating hormone levels

Dou, et al. [15]

Turmeric

(Curcuma longa)

- No effect on ovarian follicle number about 50 days post-tubal ligation; however, anti-mullerian serum levels were better preserved though the relationship was not statistically significant

Destici, et al. [16]

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) 

- No significant difference in luteinizing hormonal, testosterone, and estradiol levels between both control and MSG-treated rats; other studies provided evidence that MSG has the potential to decrease luteinizing hormone and growth hormone levels

- Decreased size of the thyroid, pituitary, adrenals, and gonads

- Increased wall thickness, cellular hypertrophy, and distortion of the endosalpinx which could explain finding of increased oviduct weight

- Decreased oocyte count and increased follicular cysts

- Four-fold increase in the intensity of AMH staining on antral follicles in MSG exposed female rats, with no statistically significant difference in staining on preantral follicles and total follicle staining

Abdulghani, et al. [18]

Gaspar, et al. [17]

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

- Statistically significant increase in serum FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone levels in a dose dependent fashion in female rats

- Increase in growing and matured graafian cells

Abdrabou, et al. [20]

Wahdan, et al. [19]

Al-Bediry, et al. [21]

Aloe vera  

- Statistically significant increase in estrogen and decrease in progesterone in aloe vera-treated rats with stimulated polycystic ovarian syndrome

- Reduced testosterone and improved progesterone and estradiol levels in female rats with induced polycystic ovarian syndrome

- Reduction in both androgen and luteinizing hormone receptor expression in the ovaries of rats impacted by polycystic ovarian syndrome

- Regained normal follicular development with a concurrent decrease in atretic follicles, and normal ovarian function was restored

Helal, et al. [23]

Radha, et al. [24]

Ginkgo Biloba

- No impact on ovarian weight; however, dose-dependent decrease in uterine weight

- In high doses it significantly decreased percentage of primordial, growing, and antral follicles

- Increased prolactin and estradiol levels at high doses and decreased progesterone, follicular stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels

El Mazoudy & Attia [25]