Mojave Yucca (Yucca Schidigera Roezl) Effects on Female Reproduction a Review

Yucca is an important source of biologically active substances such as steroidal saponins and stilbenes providing many beneficial effects when administered to humans and other animals. These substances offer a great potential in the prevention and treatment of current civilized diseases as well as to their: antioxidant, hypocholesterolaemic, anti-inflammatory, phytoestrogenic, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-carcinogenic properties. This review focuses on the roles of two main yucca constituent groups and their ability to modulate ovarian functions and female reproductive performance. Both the biological activity of yucca substances and the mechanisms of their actions on ovaries are still incompletely understood. Thus, the direct effects of yucca extract on ovarian cells in animal models under in vitro conditions, as well as actions after yucca consumption will be discussed.