Hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed improves polycystic ovary syndrome in a rat model

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors

Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Objective(s): Herbal medicines are an alternative choice for treatment or controlling of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed was evaluated on ovarian hormones and histological changes of uterus and ovary in a PCOS-induced rat model.
Materials and Methods: Twenty four rats divided into four groups including negative control, positive control, PCOS and treatment groups. Positive control group received hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed for 30 days. PCOS was induced by single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate. Treatment group was treated with flaxseed extract 7 weeks after induction of PCOS for 30 days. Ovaries and uterus were dissected out and their sections were used for histomorphometric study. Levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were measured in the serum.
Results: In the treatment group, flaxseed extract increased level of progesterone (P<0.05), while decreased testosterone (P<0.05) compared with the PCOS group. Concentrations of estrogen and DHEA did not change significantly in comparison with the PCOS group. Histomorphometric study showed that in the treatment group, the number of preantral follicles, antral follicles and corpus luteum increased compared with the PCOS group (P<0.05), but the number of cystic follicles and diameter of antral follicles decreased (P<0.05), and the number of primary follicle did not alter significantly. In the treatment group, the thickness of granulosa layer increased, but the thickness of theca layer and tunica albuginea decreased compared to the PCOS group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Hormonal profile and histomorphometric features of ovary that were disturbed by PCOS induction were ameliorated by hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1. Conway G, Dewailly D, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Escobar-Morreale HcF, Franks S, Gambineri A, et al. The polycystic ovary syndrome: a position statement from the European Society of Endocrinology. Eur J Endocrinol 2014;171:P1-P29.
2. Sirmans SM, Pate KA. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clin Epidemiol 2014;6:1-13.
3. Legro RS, Arslanian SA, Ehrmann DA, Hoeger KM, Murad MH, Pasquali R, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013;98:4565-4592.
4. Carmina E. Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome: from NIH criteria to ESHRE-ASRM guidelines. Minerva Ginecol 2004;56:1-6.
5. Nowak DA, Snyder DC, Brown AJ, Demark-Wahnefried W. The effect of flaxseed supplementation on hormonal levels associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A case study. Curr Top Nutraceutical Res 2007;5:177-181.
6. Sturgeon SR, Heersink JL, Volpe SL, Bertone-Johnson ER, Puleo E, Stanczyk FZ, et al. Effect of dietary flaxseed on serum levels of estrogens and androgens in postmenopausal women. Nutr Cancer 2008;60:612-618.
7. Altwair K, Edrah S. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity for plants Dracaena cinnabari, Verbena officinal, Polygala tenuifolia and Linux usitatissimum. J Curr Chem Pharm Sci 2015;5:47-55.
8. Paydar S, Jelodar GA, Mohammadi j, Mohammadi N. The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Nectaroscordum tripedale on liver and kidney functional parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Iran J Endocrinol Metab 2016;18:112-119.
9. Salehi MS, Jafarzadeh Shirazi MR, Zamiri MJ, Pazhoohi F, Namavar MR, Niazi A, et al. Hypothalamic expression of KiSS1 and RFamide-related peptide-3 mRNAs during the estrous cycle of rats. Int J Fertil Steril 2013;6:304-309.
10. Ouladsahebmadarek E, Khaki A, Khanahmadi S, Ahmadi Ashtiani H, Paknejad P, Ayubi MR. Hormonal and metabolic effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3) on polycystic ovary syndrome induced rats under diet. Iran J Basic Med Sci 2014;17:123-127.
11. Rahmanifar F, Nooranizadeh MH, Tamadon A, Rajabi-Aslani J, Koohi-Hosseinabadi O, Shirazi MRJ, et al. Histomorphometric comparison of induction of polycystic ovary syndrome by exposure to constant light in primiparous and nulliparous rats. Iran J Sci Technol A: Sci 2017: doi:10.1007/s40995-40017-40226-40999.
12. Azarnia M, Koochesfahani HM, Rajabi M, Tahamtani Y, Tamadon A. Histological examination of endosulfan effects on follicular development of BALB/C mice. Bulg J Vet Med 2008;12:33-41.
13. Shaaban Z, Shirazi MRJ, Nooranizadeh MH, Tamadon A, Rahmanifar F, Ahmadloo S, et al. Decreased expression of arginine-phenylalanine-amide-related peptide-3 gene in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus of constant light exposure model of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Int J Fertil Steril 2018;12:43-50.
14. Bazoobandi S, Tanideh N, Rahmanifar F, Tamadon A, Keshtkar M, Mehrabani D, et al. Induction of Asherman’s syndrome in rabbit. J Reprod Isnfertil 2016;17:10-16.
15. Kafi M, Tamadon A, Saeb M. The relationship between serum adiponectin and postpartum luteal activity in high-producing dairy cows. Theriogenology 2015;83:1264-1271.
16. Kheirabad MK, Khodabandeh Z, Rahmanifar F, Tamadon A, Jahromi BN, Owjfard M, et al. Testicular germ cells apoptosis following exposure to chronic stress in rats. Asian Pac J Reprod 2016;5:371-375.
17. Arentz S, Abbott JA, Smith CA, Bensoussan A. Herbal medicine for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated oligo/amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism; a review of the laboratory evidence for effects with corroborative clinical findings. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014;14:511.
18. Phipps WR, Martini MC, Lampe JW, Slavin JL, Kurzer MS. Effect of flax seed ingestion on the menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993;77:1215-1219.
19. Lampe JW, Martini MC, Kurzer MS, Adlercreutz H, Slavin JL. Urinary lignan and isoflavonoid excretion in premenopausal women consuming flaxseed powder. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;60:122-128.
20. Hutchins AM, Martini MC, Olson BA, Thomas W, Slavin JL. Flaxseed consumption influences endogenous hormone concentrations in postmenopausal women. Nutr Cancer 2001;39:58-65.
21. Frische EJ, Hutchins AM, Martini MC, Thomas W, Slavin JL. Effect of flaxseed and wheat bran on serum hormones and lignan excretion in premenopausal women. J Am Coll Nutr 2003;22:550-554.
22. Linares R, Hernández D, Morán C, Chavira R, Cárdenas M, Domínguez R, et al. Unilateral or bilateral vagotomy induces ovulation in both ovaries of rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2013;11:68-76.
23. Azarnia M, Kamyab SZ, Mirabolghasemi S, Saeidnia S. Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Melia azedarach L. seeds on serum concentration of sex hormones in polycystic ovary syndrome induced in female wistar rats. Feyz 2015;19:112-118.
24. Pereira VM, Honorato-Sampaio K, Martins AS, Reis FM, Reis AM. Downregulation of natriuretic peptide system and increased steroidogenesis in rat polycystic ovary. Peptides 2014;60:80-85.
25. Marcondes RR, Carvalho KtC, Duarte DC, Garcia Nl, Amaral VC, Simões MJ, et al. Differences in neonatal exposure to estradiol or testosterone on ovarian function and hormonal levels. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015;212:28-33.
26. Hoang YD, McTavish KJ, Chang RJ, Shimasaki S. Paracrine regulation of theca androgen production by granulosa cells in the ovary. Fertil Steril 2013;100:561-567.
27. Wu B, Shi Y, Gong X, Yu L, Chen Q, Wang J, et al. Evaluation of follicular synchronization caused by estrogen administration and its reproductive outcome. PLoS ONE 2015;10:e0127595.
28. Peyghambari F, Fayazi M, Amanpour S, Haddadi M, Muhammadnejad S, Muhammadnejad A, et al. Assessment of α4, αv, β1 and β3 integrins expression throughout the implantation window phase in endometrium of a mouse model of polycystic ovarian syndromes. Iran J Reprod Med 2014;12:687-694.
29. Dăneasă A, Cucolaş C, Lenghel LM, Olteanu D, Orăsan R, Filip GA. Letrozole vs estradiol valerate induced PCOS in rats: glycemic, oxidative and inflammatory status assessment. Reproduction 2016;151:401-409.
30. Dăneasă A, Cucolaș C, Furcea M, Bolfa P, Dudea S, Olteanu D, et al. Spironolactone and dimethylsulfoxide effect on glucose metabolism and oxidative stress markers in polycystic ovarian syndrome rat model. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2014;122:154-162.
31. Kabiri N, Tabandeh MR, Tabatabaie SRF. Beneficial effects of pioglitazone and metformin in murine model of polycystic ovaries via improvement of chemerin gene up-regulation. Daru 2014;22:39.
32. Mesbah F, Moslem M, Vojdani Z, Mirkhani H. Does metformin improve in vitro maturation and ultrastructure of oocytes retrieved from estradiol valerate polycystic ovary syndrome-induced rats. J Ovarian Res 2015;8:74.
33. Miri M, Karimi Jashni H, Alipour F. Effect of exercise intensity on weight changes and sexual hormones (androstenedione and free testosterone) in female rats with estradiol valerate-induced PCOS. J Ovarian Res 2014;7:37-37.
34. Ghafurniyan H, Azarnia M, Nabiuni M, Karimzadeh L. The effect of green tea extract on reproductive improvement in estradiol valerate-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in rat. Iran J Pharm Res 2015;14:1215-1233.
35. Atis A, Aydin Y, Ciftci F, Sakız D, Arslan A, Toklu AnS, et al. Hyberbaric oxygen increases atresia in normal & steroid induced PCO rat ovaries. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2012;10:11.
36. Ahmad N, Akhtar N, Ali S. Effects of aqueous methanolic extract of flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum) on serum estradiol, progesterone, kidney and liver functions and some serum biochemical metabolites in immature female rats. Pak Vet J 2012;32:211-215.
37. Ehrmann DA. Polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med 2005;352:1223-1236.
38. Fozalaee SS, Farokhi F. The effect of metformin and aqueous extract Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) on endometrial histomorphometry and the level of steroid hormones in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome. Qom Univ Med Sci J 2015;8:12-19.
39. Mirmasoumi G, Fazilati M, Foroozanfard F, Vahedpoor Z, Mahmoodi S, Taghizadeh M, et al. The Effects of flaxseed oil omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on metabolic status of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2018;126:222-228.
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 21, Issue 6
June 2018
Pages 645-650

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics