Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats
Background: Licorice (Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizome, GRR) has long been used as an ingredient in Korean traditional medicinal herbal formulas for various metabolic and reproductive diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women. In the present study,...
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Elsevier
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Integrative Medicine Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422018301288 |
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| author | Hyun Yang Hye Jin Kim Bo-Jeong Pyun Hye Won Lee |
| author_facet | Hyun Yang Hye Jin Kim Bo-Jeong Pyun Hye Won Lee |
| author_sort | Hyun Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Licorice (Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizome, GRR) has long been used as an ingredient in Korean traditional medicinal herbal formulas for various metabolic and reproductive diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women. In the present study, we examined the effects of GRR extract on PCOS-like symptoms in female rats. Methods: Symptoms of PCOS were induced by Letrozole treatment for 4 weeks in 6-week-old female SD rats, after which the effects of GRR extract on recovery of normal hormonal levels and polycystic ovaries were assessed. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH ratio, and follicular cysts were evaluated, followed by the expression levels of known follicular phase markers such as Kitl, Cyp11a1, and Ptgs2. Results: The serum level of FSH was reduced only in the Lestrozole treatment group (PCOS), whereas significant recovery of FSH level was observed in the Letrozole and GRR co-treatment group (PCOS + GRR). Serum LH levels were not altered in any of the groups. Furthermore, the LH/FSH ratio (known biomarker for PCOS) was elevated only in the Letrozole treatment group (PCOS), whereas it was significantly reduced in the Letrozole and GRR co-treatment group (PCOS + GRR). For histological changes, follicular cysts, antral follicles, and increased thickness of the theca- and granulosa layers were observed in the PCOS group, whereas these alterations were remarkably reversed by GRR treatment. Conclusion: These results suggest that GRR extract inhibits the symptoms of PCOS by regulating imbalanced hormonal levels and irregular ovarian follicles. Keywords: Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma, Letrozole, LH/FSH ratio, Licorice, Polycystic ovary syndrome |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ac1eca883dc42abbf264509601eab0a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2213-4220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Integrative Medicine Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ac1eca883dc42abbf264509601eab0a2025-08-20T01:58:00ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202018-09-017326427010.1016/j.imr.2018.05.003Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female ratsHyun Yang0Hye Jin Kim1Bo-Jeong Pyun2Hye Won Lee3Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, KoreaHerbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, KoreaHerbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, KoreaCorresponding author at: Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea.; Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, KoreaBackground: Licorice (Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizome, GRR) has long been used as an ingredient in Korean traditional medicinal herbal formulas for various metabolic and reproductive diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women. In the present study, we examined the effects of GRR extract on PCOS-like symptoms in female rats. Methods: Symptoms of PCOS were induced by Letrozole treatment for 4 weeks in 6-week-old female SD rats, after which the effects of GRR extract on recovery of normal hormonal levels and polycystic ovaries were assessed. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH ratio, and follicular cysts were evaluated, followed by the expression levels of known follicular phase markers such as Kitl, Cyp11a1, and Ptgs2. Results: The serum level of FSH was reduced only in the Lestrozole treatment group (PCOS), whereas significant recovery of FSH level was observed in the Letrozole and GRR co-treatment group (PCOS + GRR). Serum LH levels were not altered in any of the groups. Furthermore, the LH/FSH ratio (known biomarker for PCOS) was elevated only in the Letrozole treatment group (PCOS), whereas it was significantly reduced in the Letrozole and GRR co-treatment group (PCOS + GRR). For histological changes, follicular cysts, antral follicles, and increased thickness of the theca- and granulosa layers were observed in the PCOS group, whereas these alterations were remarkably reversed by GRR treatment. Conclusion: These results suggest that GRR extract inhibits the symptoms of PCOS by regulating imbalanced hormonal levels and irregular ovarian follicles. Keywords: Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma, Letrozole, LH/FSH ratio, Licorice, Polycystic ovary syndromehttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422018301288 |
| spellingShingle | Hyun Yang Hye Jin Kim Bo-Jeong Pyun Hye Won Lee Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats Integrative Medicine Research |
| title | Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats |
| title_full | Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats |
| title_fullStr | Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats |
| title_short | Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats |
| title_sort | licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in letrozole induced female rats |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422018301288 |
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