Effectiveness of Aqueous Extract of Fenugreek Seeds and Flaxseed on Polycystic ‎Ovarian Syndrome in Female Rats

ABSTRACT

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disease impacting adult female in which its main features are hyperandrogenism, insulinresistance (IR), hyperinsulinemia, which enhances the probability of getting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed toestimate the antidiabetic effect of fenugreek and the anti-androgenic effect of flaxseed and use the combination of both to treat polycysticovarian syndrome in female rats. Forty Wistar rats were divided into five groups each contained eight rats, Group I normal control, therats in Group II-V received Estradiol valerate (4mg/kg in 0.4ml Sesame oil i.p.). Then, Group II served as PCOS control. The rats in GroupIII were given fenugreek aqueous extract (100 mg/kg), Group IV received flaxseed aqueous extract (300 ml/kg) and Group V administered acombination of both extracts, for 60 consecutive days after PCOS conformation, extracts were given orally. The results showed that theEstradiol Valerate induced a dignified increase in glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase (AST),alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and body weight in comparison to control. Moreover, anoutstanding rise in serum LH, FSH, testosterone and a decrease in progesterone level, with no change in estradiol was detected.Furthermore, a significant rise in lipid peroxidation accompanied by an insignificant increase in nitric oxide, a significant decline insuperoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities in ovarian homogenates were also noted. Supplementation of fenugreekand flaxseed significantly attenuated these parameters. The results showed the beneficial effect of fenugreek and flaxseed in improving theimpairment of IR and hyperandrogenism with corresponding disrupted parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome.