Plant extracts can be an alternative to treat some female infertility. Female fertility is a complex process regulated by hypothalamic–pituitary-ovarian unit involving both negative and positive feedback mechanisms. Because this hypothalamo–pituitary-ovarian axis is crucial in the regulation of female fertility, this review highlights mechanisms of action of various plant extracts on this axis. Diagram by J. Dupont using BioRender software.

This article belongs to the collection: The biology of the ovary – Honouring the contributions of Ken P McNatty and Rex J Scaramuzzi.

Resistin belongs to adipokines – the group of hormones secreted mainly by the adipose tissue that can regulate not only energy homeostasis but also reproductive functions. We determined the presence of resistin in the uterus and its impact on the uterine steroidogenesis of pigs, an important farm animal. The obtained results suggest that resistin may interconnect metabolism and reproduction, and in the long-term perspective, these results may help improve farm animal breeding efficiency. Image by the authors