TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS AMELIORATES PCOS PHENOTYPE BY MODULATING STEROIDOGENESIS AND FREE RADICAL LOAD IN LETROZOLE-INDUCED PCOS MICE
Parikha, Poonam Singh and Amitabh Krishna*
ABSTRACT
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinological disorder affecting about 15% of reproductively active women. Prolonged usage of metformin (current treatment) has been associated with various side effects. Tribulus terrestris is used in folk medicine as a tonic, aphrodisiac, stomachic, anti-hypertensive and urinary disinfectant. Ethno-medically, it has been used in Ayurveda to treat impotence and sexual debility for centuries. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of T. terrestris on PCOS-mice and the possible underlying mechanisms. PCOS was induced in adult (12 weeks) mice by letrozole for 21 days. PCOS-induced mice were subsequently supplemented with extract of T. terrestris and the effect was evaluated by analysis of ovarian histology, serum steroids concentration, oxidative stress and immunoblot analysis. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis was also performed to chemically characterize the plant extract. Supplementation of T. terrestris to PCOS-mice restored body mass, decreased androgen synthesis, number of cystic follicles, increased healthy antral follicles and induced ovulation. It also significantly reduced oxidative load in the PCOS-mice. Thus, T. terrestris restored normal ovarian activities by acting on key steroidogenic enzymes and decreasing the free radical load and can be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for PCOS in near future since it’s easy to procure, cheap and has no potential side effects.
Keywords: PCOS, Hyperandrogenism, Tribulus terrestris, Oxidative stress, Obesity.
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