Endocrine Abstracts

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and gynaecological disorder, occurring in 5% to 20% women of reproductive age. It is characterized by hyperandogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovaries. Impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, insulin resistance and oxidative stress are identified causal mechanisms of PCOS. Vernonia amydalina(VA) leaf is a medicinal plant containing bioactive phytochemicals known to improve insulin sensitivity. Its potential use as a plant-based treatment option for PCOS is therefore explored due to the side effects of currently available drugs for treating PCOS. The study aim to investigate the effect of oral VA leaf extract administration on serum testosterone levels, oxidative stress parameters and ovarian weight in letrozole-induced PCOS rats. Fifteen cyclic female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 160g to 180g were orally administered letrozole once daily for 28 days at 1 mg/kg body weight. Successful induction of PCOS was confirmed by increased ovarian weight, polycystic ovaries and increased serum testosterone levels. The rats were randomly divided into two groups, namely VA-treatment group administered once daily with 400 mg/kg body weight of VA orally for 28 days and positive control rats which received a placebo. Serum levels of testosterone, oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase) and ovarian weight were assessed in both groups after treatment. Serum testosterone (7.9 ± 1.15ng/ml vs. 16.03 ± 1.09ng/ml), malondialdehyde levels (1.9 ± 0.17U/mol vs. 5.98 ± 0.39U/mol) and ovarian weight (0.28 ± 0.04g vs. 0.49 ± 0.05g) were significantly lower in VA-treated PCOS rats compared to the untreated rats. Catalase and superoxide dismutase levels were not significantly different (1.64 ± 0.04U/mol vs. 1.61 ± 0.06U/mol; 1.71 + 0.06U/mol vs. 1.59 ± 0.03U/mol respectively) in both groups. These results show that oral administration of VA leaf extract ameliorates PCOS through reduction in oxidative stress and androgen production in rat model.

Keywords: PCOS, polycystic ovaries, Vernonia amydalina, medicinal plants