Context: The role of metabolic hormones, medicinal plants and their interrelationships in the control of human reproductive processes are poorly understood.
Aims: To examine how leptin, obestatin and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) affect human ovarian hormone release.
Methods: We analysed the influence of leptin and obestatin alone and in combination with ginkgo extract on cultured human ovarian granulosa cells. The release of progesterone (P), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), oxytocin (OT) and prostaglandin F (PGF) were analysed by enzyme immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Key results: Leptin addition promoted the release of all the measured hormones. Obestatin stimulated the release of P, IGF-I and OT and inhibited PGF output. Ginkgo suppressed P, IGF-I and OT and promoted PGF release. Furthermore, ginkgo changed the stimulatory action of leptin on PGF to an inhibitory one.
Conclusions: Leptin and obestatin are involved in the control of human ovarian hormone release and ginkgo influences their function.
Implications: Leptin and obestatin could be useful as stimulators of human ovarian cell functions. The suppressive influence of ginkgo on ovarian function should lead to the development of ginkgo-containing drugs.