Investigating the Effect of Crocus sativus (Saffron) Petal Hydro-alcoholic  Extract on Ovarian Follicle, Inflammatory Markers, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Mice Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Fazeleh  Moshfegh; Saeedeh  Zafar Balanejad; Khadige  Shahrokhabady; Armin  Attaranzadeh

doi:10.18502/jri.v23i1.8447

Fazeleh Moshfegh Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Saeedeh Zafar Balanejad Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Khadige Shahrokhabady Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Armin Attaranzadeh Department of Milad IVF, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jri.v23i1.8447

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes, Crocus sativus (saffron) petals, Infertility, Inflammatory markers, Ovarian follicle, Polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Saffron petals have traditionally been used to treat a variety of diseases, such as gynecological diseases, primary dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a kind of gynecological disease that causes infertility, menopausal and urogenital disorders and saffron petals seem to be an efficient treatment for such disorders.

Methods: NMRI mice (total=60, each group n=12) were divided into control, PCOS, and the treatment groups. PCOS and treatment groups were injected with testosterone enanthate (TE=1 mg/kg). After 4 weeks, the treatment group was treated with Saffron Petal Extract (SPE) for 14 days. Ovary and blood samples were collected for histological and serological analyses, and expression of NF-κB, NF-κB p65, and IκB genes was analyzed. Finally, data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA (p<0.05).

Results: In this study, the number of corpus luteum decreased in PCOS mice (p< 0.001) but increased with SPE treatment (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). The number of cystic follicles increased in PCOS mice (p<0.001), but decreased with SPE treatment (p<0.05, p<0.001). TNFα, IL1ß, IL6, IL18, and CRP levels increased in PCOS mice (p<0.001), but decreased following SPE treatment (p<0.05, p<0.001). Glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) serum levels decreased in PCOS mice (p<0.001), but increased with SPE treatment (p<0.05, p<0.001). The transcriptional level (s) of NF-κB, NF-κB p65, IκB genes changed in PCOS condition (p<0.001), and were regulated by SPE treatment (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001).

Conclusion: The present study shows that SPE improved the PCOS symptoms in mice via increasing antioxidant factors and reducing inflammatory markers in serum.