Beneficial effects of alchemilla vulgaris in DHEA-induced rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Alchemilla vulgaris has traditionally been used to treat gynecologic diseases. The anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects of the extract of A. vulgaris (AVE) have been reported in previous studies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of A. vulgaris on PCOS, one of the most common metabolic disorders in adult women of reproductive age, accompanied by inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction, in an experimental animal model. Three groups of prepubertal female Wistar rats were established: PCOS, Control, and PCOS + AVE groups. Subcutaneous dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was administered for 35 days to the PCOS and PCOS + AVE groups. The rats in the PCOS + AVE group were orally administered AVE (50 mg/100 g bw/day) for 35 days. Systemic blood pressure, vascular endothelial function, ovarian morphology, and endocrine biomarker levels were measured at the end of the experiment. TNF-alpha levels were also evaluated in the thoracic aorta and ovaries. Hormonal imbalances, ovarian morphological changes, and endothelial dysfunction were observed in the PCOS group, which returned to the controls after AVE treatment. Furthermore, AVE attenuated the aortic and ovarian levels of TNF-alpha in the PCOS group. Our study suggests that AVE may have beneficial effects in the treatment of PCOS due to its anti-inflammatory and vasculoprotective properties.