Improves immunological and histological alterations associated with Polycystic ovarian syndrome in DHEA -induced mice by Licorice extract

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of licorice extract on PCOS. After induction of PCOS by subcutaneous injection (SC) of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (60  mg/kg) in BALB/C mice for 21 days, the mice were treated with licorice extract (50 mg/kg) for 21 days. At the end of experimental procedures, ovarian morphology, blood antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide (NO), the abundance of Treg cells, and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tra nsforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), cyclooxygenase-2 genes (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured. The estrus cycle returned to normal after treatment with licorice extract. It was observed that the licorice number of ovarian cysts was significantly higher in the licorice g roup than in the PCOS group, and the corpus luteum was lower than in the control group. NO, FRAP, and Treg cell numbers did not significantly alter. The TGF- gene’s expression level significantly increased, but the expression level of TNF-α, COX-2, and MMP-9 did not change significantly. Immune r esponses play an important role in the development of inflammation. Licorice extract, with anti-inflammatory properties, may be an effective supplement in improving the histological and immunological changes of PCOS.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research