Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2023 Mar;66(2):107-117. 10.5468/ogs.22129.

Beneficial effects of Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract on letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in rat model

• Khosrowpour Z
• Fahimi S
• Jafari F
• Tansaz M
• Sahranavard S
• Faizi M

• KMID: 2540480
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.22129

Abstract

Objective
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that disrupts the menstrual cycle and causes infertility. Considering the increasing use of medicinal plants, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Teucrium polium L. on letrozole-induced PCOS in female rats.
Methods
Six groups of rats (n=7 each) were evaluated. The control group received 1% carboxy methyl cellulose as vehicle, while the five other groups received letrozole 1 mg/kg orally for 21 days. After PCOS induction, the rats were orally administered T. polium extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) or metformin (200 mg/kg) for 28 days. Subsequently, body and ovarian weights and serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were measured. Finally, the ovarian tissues were isolated for histological examination.
Results
There were no significant changes in weekly body weight in any group. After 21 days of letrozole administration, PCOS induction was confirmed by estrous cycle irregularities and increased LH and testosterone levels. After treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium, testosterone and LH levels were significantly reduced in all groups (P<0.05). Histological studies of ovaries in the metformin and T. polium groups exhibited normal follicular development with fewer and smaller cystic follicles than those in the PCOS group.
Conclusion
The hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium improves serum levels of sex hormones, restores ovarian morphology in PCOS-induced rats, and is a good candidate for further clinical trials.

Keyword

Polycystic ovarian syndrome; Letrozole

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The experimental model of the study. PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; CMC, carboxymethyl cellulose.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Bodyweight over time. Each point represents the average body weight (in grams) for each group, and the trend over three-time points is shown. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures using the day and group as variables showed no significant change between groups. (B) Bilateral ovaries’ weights measurement. Analyzed by one-way ANOVA test with Tukey’s compare all pair of columns. Data are expressed as mean±standard error of the mean. PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; TP., Teucrium polium; ANOVA, analysis of variance.

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  Fig. 3 Percentage of each phase of the estrus cycle after treatment with metformin and hydroalcoholic extracts of Teucrium polium for 28 days. Number of rats per group, 6. Values are expressed as mean±standard error of the mean (n=6) evaluated by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s test. (a) P<0.05; (b) P<0.001; (c) P<0.0001 versus the PCOS group. PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; TP., Teucrium polium.

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  Fig. 4 Mean±standard error of the mean of LH, FSH, testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol concentrations in control, PCOS, metformin, and TP. hydroalcoholic extracts groups after 28 days of the experiment. (A) LH, (B) FSH, (C) LH/FSH ratio, (D) estradiol, (E) testosterone, and (F) progesterone. Values are expressed as mean±standard error of the mean (n=6). As evaluated by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s tests. LH, luteinizing hormone; PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; TP., Teucrium polium; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; ANOVA, analysis of variance. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001; ****P<0.0001 compared to the PCOS group. ##P<0.01; ###P<0.001; ####P<0.0001 as compared to the control group.

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  Fig. 5 Microscopic study of lateral section of rat ovary. Histological sections of the ovary were stained with H&E, ×4. Treated rats after 28 days of the experiment. (A) Control group with different stages of ovarian follicles including secondary, antral, graafian follicles, and corpora lutea. (B) PCOS group containing various giant cystic follicles. (C) Metformin group with secondary, antral, graafian follicles, and corpora lutea. (D) TP. 50 mg/kg group with few cystic follicles and other follicles. (E) TP. 100 mg/kg group with mature graafian follicles, few cystic follicles, and other developing follicles and corpora lutea. (F) TP. 200 mg/kg group with lots of graafian and antral follicles and small cystic follicles. H&E, Hematoxylin and Eosin stain; PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; TP., Teucrium polium.

Reference

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