Effect of Aqueous Extract of Artemisia absinthium L. on Sex Hormones, Inflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress Indices of Ovarian Tissue in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rat Model

• Main Authors: S.D Sadoughi, R. Rahbarian, N. Jahani, S.A. Shazdeh, S. Hossein Zadeh Saljoughi, M. Daee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Babol University of Medical Sciences 2017-07-01
• Series: Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul
• Subjects: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome; Artemisia absinthium; Oxidative stress; Cytokines; Rats
• Online Access: http://jbums.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1736-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hormonal disorders along with oxidative stress and inflammation in ovarian tissue lead to anovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Considering antioxidant effect of Artemisia absinthium, purpose of this study is to determine the effect of aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium on serum levels of sex hormones, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indices of ovarian tissue in polycystic ovary syndrome rat model. METHODS: In this study, 32 female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups: groups of control, PCOS control and two groups with PCOS which are under treatment through aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium (100 and 200 mg/kg). Polycystic ovarian syndrome was induced by single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate (4mg/kg). Aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium was intraperitoneal injection to PCOS treated groups, for 24 days. At the end of treatment period, serum levels of LH, FSH, Estradiol, Testosterone, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and levels of SOD, CAT, GPX enzymes and level of MDA in ovarian tissue were measured through ELISA method. FINDINGS: Compared to PCOS control group (LH: 14.30±2.52, FSH: 2.35±0.28, Estradiol: 17.61±2.44, Testosterone: 10.29±1.56, TNF-α: 178.65±4.35, IL-1β: 121.52±5.17, IL-6: 162.28±5.83, SOD: 20.51±1.84, CAT: 64.42±3.70, GPX: 35.15±2.88, MDA: 87.32±3.40), MDA tissue level (55.46±4.73), serum levels of LH (8.26±1.36), Estradiol (7.76±1.55), Testosterone (6.40±1.04) and TNF-α (115.35±5.83), IL-1β (70.25±5.74) and IL-6 (89.15±4.52) cytokines in group under treatment with 200 mg/kg aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium significantly decreased (p=0.008) and serum level of FSH (7.52±1.21) and levels of SOD (71.58±5.19), CAT (128.30±5.11) and GPX (88.21±5.51) antioxidant enzymes of ovarian tissue significantly increased (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium by decreasing the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the activity of the ovary tissue antioxidant enzymes has a favorable effect on the improvement of hormonal parameters in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome