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Ethnopharmacological relevance Chickpea was used in both greek and indian traditional medicine for hormonal related conditions as menstrual induction, acceleration of parturation, treatment of retained placenta and stimulation of lactation. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) sprout isoflavone isolates exhibited reasonable estrogenic activities. Isoflavones, a subtype of phytoestrogens, are plant derivatives with moderate estrogenic activity that tend to have protective effects on hormonal and metabolic abnormalities of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Aim of the study In this study, we investigated the effect of UPLC/ESI-MS characterized Cicer arietinum L. seeds ethanol extract (CSE) on ovarian hormones, oxidative response and ovarian histological changes on induced PCOS rat model. Materials and methods Thirty-five rats were divided into five groups including negative control, PCOS, and treatment groups. PCOS was induced using letrozole (1 mg/kg) daily orally for 21 days. Each treatment group was treated with one of the following for 28 days after induction of PCOS: clomiphene citrate (1 mg/kg), and CSE at 250 and 500 mg/kg. Ovaries and uteri were excised, weighed and their sections were used for quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, antioxidant assays and histomorphometric study of the ovaries. The antioxidant assays, histopathological examination, hormonal and metabolic profiles, and Cyp11a1(steroidogenic enzyme) mRNA expression were measured. Results In all treatment groups, ovarian weight was significantly decreased despite having no significant effect on uterine weight. Histomorphometric study in the treatment groups revealed a significant decrease in the number and diameter of cystic follicles, a significant increase in granulosa cell thickness while, thickness of theca cells was significantly decreased when compared to PCOS. Hormone levels, metabolic profile and antioxidant status were improved in the treatment groups. Moreover, Cyp11a1 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated in the treatment groups compared to PCOS. Conclusions In the current study, CSE enhanced the reproductive and metabolic disorders which were associated with PCOS induction. For the first time, we have highlighted the effect of CSE in treating PCOS and its associated manifestations.

BackgroundComplementary remedies such as the Chinese herb ‘Sheng Ma’ (Black cohosh;Actaea racemosa‘AR’) are being sought to overcome the shortcomings of conventional hormonal and surgical therapies developed for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, AR-induced hepatotoxicity necessitates a cautionary warning to be labeled on its products as recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia, where four out of seven hepatotoxic cases in Sweden were possibly associated with black cohosh products.MethodsWe investigated the effects, safety, and molecular targets of black cohosh ethanolic extract and/or vitamin C on ovarian functionality and oxidative response in hyperandrogenism-induced PCOS rats. A well-established rat model using oral letrozole, daily, for 21 days was employed. The rats then received the AR extract with and without vitamin C for 28 days. The hormonal evaluation, antioxidant status, histopathological examination, immunohistochemical analysis, cell proliferation, and the expression ratio of the aromatase (Cyp19α1) gene were evaluated. Additionally, holistic profiling of the AR arsenal of secondary metabolites was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole high-resolution time of flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS).ResultsBeneficial effects were exerted by AR in PCOS rats as antioxidant status, hormonal profile, lipid profile, glucose level, liver functions, and the induced Ki-67 expression in the granulosa, theca cell layers and interstitial stromal cells were all improved. Notably, the combination of AR with vitamin C was not only more effective in reversing the dysregulated levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and mRNA level of Cyp19α1 gene in the PCOS rat, but also safer. The combination regulated both ovarian and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels with histological improvement observed in the liver and ovaries. In addition, the untargeted metabolomic profiling enabled the identification of 61 metabolites allocated in five major chemical classes.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the benefit of the combinatorial effects of AR and vitamin C in mitigating the reproductive and metabolic disorders associated with PCOS with the elimination of AR hepatotoxic risk.