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International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2019, Volume : 7, Issue : 3
First page : (1) Last page : (14)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.7466

Beneficial Effects of Prunus dulcis (Almond Oil) on Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Rats

Sakina Shabbir, Lubna Naz*, Zoha Khan and Amber Ayaz Memon

Department of Physiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author E-mail: lunaz@uok.edu.pk
Received: 18.04.2019 | Revised: 25.05.2019 | Accepted: 29.05.2019  

 ABSTRACT

Prunus dulcis (Almonds) are cholesterol free and contain many vital health nutrients like zinc and L-arginine, and have high amount of monounsaturated fats (MUFA’s) required for reproductive health. PCOS is a recurrent endocrine disorder in females, and it affects around 6%-10% of all female population. Letrozole is a drug hypothesized to induce polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO) in experimental rat models. The goal of this study was to analyze antiandrogenic effects of Almond oil on PCOS which is produced by letrozole in rats. Animals were separated into three different groups (n=6). Control (untreated) group was considered as group I. PCOS was induced in rats with 1mg/kg of Letrozole daily for 21 consecutive days in Group II, while  Group III was treated with letrozole for 21 days along with Almond oil (0.1ml/kg b.w) daily for last 14 consecutive days of the experiment. Body weights were recorded and vaginal smears were prepared and fixed to deduce the phases of estrus cycle on daily basis. 21 days later rats were slaughtered and the ovaries were collected for histological investigations and blood plasma was stored for further biochemical assessments. There are four phases in Estrus cycle: estrus, metestrus, diestrus and proestrus. Group II, the cycle was blocked by letrozole at diestrus phase as shown by vaginal smear. After almond oil administration Group III showed some positive response and the diestrus phase preceded to estrus phase. Weight loss was observed in both Groups I & II. Our biochemical test exhibited some positive results as the testosterone, and triglycerides decreased and even the cholesterol profile, but only HDL were slightly increased in the treated group. Almond oil’s prolonged usage may exert some beneficial effects in PCOS. Treatment with this oil might gradually reverse the diestrus phase into normal estrus phase. It is also able to decrease the hyper androgenic condition by decreasing testosterone levels and hyperglycemic condition changed to normoglycemic due to MUFA’s and phenolic compounds found in almond oil.

Key words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Letrozole, almond oil, Estrus cycle, Antiandrogenic, Vaginal smears.

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Shabbir, S., Naz, L., Khan, Z., Memon, A. A., Beneficial Effects of Prunus dulcis (Almond Oil) on Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome In Rats, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.7(3): 1-14 (2019). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.7466