Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Therapeutic effect of Ferula assa-foetida oleo-gum resin in rats with letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome

  • Amir Shieh (Department of Physiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Seyyed Majid Bagheri (Department of Physiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Maryam Yadegari (Department of Anatomy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Davoud Javidmehr (Department of Embryology, Research Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Royan Institute) ;
  • Zeinab Farhadi (Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2022.04.26
  • Accepted : 2022.10.10
  • Published : 2022.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective: Asafoetida is a gum derived from Ferula assa-foetida, which is used in traditional Iranian medicine to treat some reproductive system disorders. The effects of asafoetida on ovarian tissue, expression of certain genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and levels of liver, kidney, and blood cell factors after treatment in a rat model were investigated. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups: normal, polycystic, and treatment with three doses of asafoetida (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg for 3 weeks after PCOS induction). PCOS was induced by letrozole at a dose of 1 mg/kg administered orally for 3 weeks. Blood samples were taken, and the ovaries were removed and prepared for histomorphometric examination. Liver and kidney parameters were measured. The mRNA expression levels of luteinizing hormone receptor, CYP11A1, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, adiponectin, and adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 were also measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The levels of liver, kidney, and blood parameters did not significantly differ between the treatment groups and the control group. At doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, ovarian histopathology, especially the thicknesses of the theca and granulosa layers, was significantly improved relative to the PCOS group. The expression of target genes also improved in the 25 and 50 mg/kg treatment groups. Conclusion: Asafoetida can be used to treat PCOS as a complementary approach to conventional therapies. Asafoetida appears to act by regulating and activating metabolic and ovarian cycle enzymes.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the foundation of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran (No. 12013).

References

  1. Sirmans SM, Pate KA. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clin Epidemiol 2013;6:1-13. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S37559
  2. Rosenfield RL, Ehrmann DA. The pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the hypothesis of PCOS as functional ovarian hyperandrogenism revisited. Endocr Rev 2016;37:467-520. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2015-1104
  3. Codner E, Escobar-Morreale HF. Clinical review: hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary syndrome in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92:1209-16. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-2641
  4. Baka S, Malamitsi-Puchner A. Novel follicular fluid factors influencing oocyte developmental potential in IVF: a review. Reprod Biomed Online 2006;12:500-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1472-6483(10)62005-6
  5. Caldwell AS, Middleton LJ, Jimenez M, Desai R, McMahon AC, Allan CM, et al. Characterization of reproductive, metabolic, and endocrine features of polycystic ovary syndrome in female hyperandrogenic mouse models. Endocrinology 2014;155:3146-59. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2014-1196
  6. Masarovicova E, Kralova K. Medicinal plants: past, nowadays, future. Acta Hortic 2007;749:19-27. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.749.1
  7. Gholami O, Shamsara J. Comparison of the cytotoxic effects of umbelliprenin and auraptene. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 2016;8:1-4.
  8. Asghari J, Atabaki V, Baher E, Mazaheritehrani M. Identification of sesquiterpene coumarins of oleo-gum resin of Ferula assa-foetida L. from the Yasuj region. Nat Prod Res 2016;30:350-3. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2015.1050669
  9. Nazari ZE, Iranshahi M. Biologically active sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula species. Phytother Res 2011;25:315-23. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3311
  10. Iranshahy M, Iranshahi M. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida oleo-gum-resin): a review. J Ethnopharmacol 2011;134:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.067
  11. Angelini P, Pagiotti R, Venanzoni R, Granetti B. Antifungal and allelopathic effects of Asafoetida against Trichoderma harzianum and Pleurotus spp. Allelopath J 2009;23:357-68.
  12. Abu-Zaiton AS. Anti-diabetic activity of Ferula assafoetida extract in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Pak J Biol Sci 2010;13:97-100. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2010.97.100
  13. Bagheri SM, Hedesh ST, Mirjalili A, Dashti-R MH. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and some possible mechanisms of antinociceptive effect of Ferula assa foetida oleo gum resin. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med 2016;21:271-6. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587215605903
  14. Soudamini KK, Unnikrishnan MC, Sukumaran K, Kuttan R. Mutagenicity and anti-mutagenicity of selected spices. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1995;39:347-53.
  15. Bagheri SM, Abdian-Asl A, Moghadam MT, Yadegari M, Mirjalili A, Zare-Mohazabieh F, et al. Antitumor effect of Ferula assa foetida oleo gum resin against breast cancer induced by 4T1 cells in BALB/c mice. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2017;8:152-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2017.02.013
  16. Bagheri SM, Dashti-R MH. Influence of asafoetida on prevention and treatment of memory impairment induced by d-galactose and NaNO2 in mice. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2015;30: 607-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317515576388
  17. Bagheri SM, Rezvani ME, Vahidi AR, Esmaili M. Anticonvulsant effect of Ferula assa-foetida oleo gum resin on chemical and amygdala-kindled rats. N Am J Med Sci 2014;6:408-12. https://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.139296
  18. Lee CL, Chiang LC, Cheng LH, Liaw CC, Abd El-Razek MH, Chang FR, et al. Influenza A (H(1)N(1)) antiviral and cytotoxic agents from Ferula assa-foetida. J Nat Prod 2009;72:1568-72. https://doi.org/10.1021/np900158f
  19. Bagheri SM, Maghsoudi MJ, Yadegari M. Preventive effect of Ferula asafetida oleo gum resin on histopathology in cuprizone-induced demyelination mice. Int J Prev Med 2020;11:179.
  20. Morovatisharifabad M, Salehi E, Rostami M. The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of asafetida resin on the serum levels of sexual hormones in a rat model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Iran J Vet Clin Sci 1398;13:71-9.
  21. Ghavi F, Shakeri F, Taebi M. Effects of Ferula assa-foetida on clinical, hormonal and ultrasound parameters in young girls with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, placebo controlled, triple-blinded. 2020.
  22. Kafali H, Iriadam M, Ozardali I, Demir N. Letrozole-induced polycystic ovaries in the rat: a new model for cystic ovarian disease. Arch Med Res 2004;35:103-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2003.10.005
  23. Nallathambi A, Bhargavan R. Regulation of estrous cycle by Cynodon dactylon in letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in Wistars albino rats. Anat Cell Biol 2019;52:511-7. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.114
  24. Bagheri SM, Yadegari M, Zare-Mohazabiye F, Momeni-Asl H, Mirjalili A, Anvari M, Effect of Ferula assa foetida oleo-gum-resin on gastric ulcer in indomethacin-ulcerated rats. J Curr Res Sci Med 2018;4:42-6.
  25. Yang H, Lee SY, Lee SR, Pyun BJ, Kim HJ, Lee YH, et al. Therapeutic effect of Ecklonia cava extract in letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome rats. Front Pharmacol 2018;9:1325.
  26. Bagheri SM, Yadegari M, Mirjalily A, Rezvani ME. Evaluation of toxicity effects of asafetida on biochemical, hematological, and histological parameters in male wistar rats. Toxicol Int 2015;22:61-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-6580.172258
  27. Goudah A, Abdo-El-Sooud K, Yousef MA. Acute and subchronic toxicity assessment model of Ferula assa-foetida gum in rodents. Vet World 2015;8:584-9. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2015.584-589
  28. Baravalle C, Salvetti NR, Mira GA, Pezzone N, Ortega HH. Microscopic characterization of follicular structures in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in the rat. Arch Med Res 2006;37: 830-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.04.006
  29. Abbott DH, Greinwald EP, Levine JE. Developmental origins of polycystic ovary syndrome: everything starts in utero. Polycystic Ovary Syndr 2022;23-38.
  30. Bagheri SM, Yadegari M, Porentezari M, Mirjalili A, Hasanpor A, Dashti RM, et al. Effect of Ferula assa-foetida oleo gum resin on spermatic parameters and testicular histopathology in male wistar rats. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2015;6:175-80. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-9476.146552
  31. Ayoubi AR, Valizadeh R, Arsnami J, Mousavi Z. The effect of water-alcholic extracted gum of ferula asafoetida on body and testes weight, testosterone and spermatogenesis in adult male wistar rat. Iran J Anim Sci Res 2014;6:173-80.
  32. Edson MA, Nagaraja AK, Matzuk MM. The mammalian ovary from genesis to revelation. Endocr Rev 2009;30:624-712. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2009-0012
  33. Wang W, Zheng J, Cui N, Jiang L, Zhou H, Zhang D, et al. Baicalin ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome through AMP-activated protein kinase. J Ovarian Res 2019;12:109.
  34. Kadowaki T, Yamauchi T. Adiponectin and adiponectin receptors. Endocr Rev 2005;26:439-51. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2005-0005
  35. Mihanfar A, Nouri M, Roshangar L, Khadem-Ansari MH. Therapeutic potential of quercetin in an animal model of PCOS: possible involvement of AMPK/SIRT-1 axis. Eur J Pharmacol 2021;900: 174062.
  36. Azizian H, Rezvani ME, Esmaeili DM, Bagheri SM. Anti-obesity, fat lowering and liver steatosis protective effects of Ferula asafoetida gum in type 2 diabetic rats: possible involvement of leptin. Iran Diabet Obes 2012;4:120-6.
  37. Keshri G, Bajpai M, Lakshmi V, Setty BS, Gupta G. Role of energy metabolism in the pregnancy interceptive action of Ferula assafoetida and Melia azedarach extracts in rat. Contraception 2004; 70:429-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2004.06.003