Beneficial effects of Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract on letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that disrupts the menstrual cycle and causes infertility. Considering the increasing use of medicinal plants, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Teucrium polium L. on letrozole-induced PCOS in female rats. METHODS: Six groups of rats (n=7 each) were evaluated. The control group received 1% carboxy methyl cellulose as vehicle, while the five other groups received letrozole 1 mg/kg orally for 21 days. After PCOS induction, the rats were orally administered T. polium extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) or metformin (200 mg/kg) for 28 days. Subsequently, body and ovarian weights and serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were measured. Finally, the ovarian tissues were isolated for histological examination. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in weekly body weight in any group. After 21 days of letrozole administration, PCOS induction was confirmed by estrous cycle irregularities and increased LH and testosterone levels. After treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium, testosterone and LH levels were significantly reduced in all groups (P<0.05). Histological studies of ovaries in the metformin and T. polium groups exhibited normal follicular development with fewer and smaller cystic follicles than those in the PCOS group. CONCLUSION: The hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium improves serum levels of sex hormones, restores ovarian morphology in PCOS-induced rats, and is a good candidate for further clinical trials.

Skin biophysical assessments of four types of soaps by forearm in-use test.

BACKGROUND: While soaps are the most commonly used cleansing agents for human skin, they also damage the epidermal barrier and potentially increase the risk of disorders such as contact dermatitis. AIMS: This study set out to compare the potential skin irritancy of four types of soaps and their effects on the skin barrier function and biophysical parameters. METHODS: In a nonblinded comparative study, three types of soaps (alkaline, creamy, and glycerin soaps), and a syndet were applied to four different groups of 15 healthy subjects. Subjects washed their left forearm with the respective soap at home at least four times a day for seven days. Biophysical skin parameters, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, friction, and pH, were measured at various time points using the Cutometer® MPA 580. RESULTS: After the first wash, a significant increase in TEWL was observed for all groups compared to the pre-intervention period. For the alkaline soap, a substantial increase in pH was observed at all time points compared to the baseline. Syndet, the only acidic soap in this study, showed a significant decrease in pH at the last time compared to all time points. The mean value of erythema was significantly higher in alkaline soap users than glycerin and creamy soap users. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that alkaline-based soaps could cause erythema and increase TEWL and skin pH due to their strong cleansing action, and the addition of compounds such as glycerin can modify these effects. A newer generation of soap containing a mild surfactant such as syndets causes less skin damage.

Effects of four soaps on skin trans-epidermal water loss and erythema index.

BACKGROUND: Various tests have been carried out to determine the irritant potential of soaps/cleansers. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to compare the effects of four different soap formulations on biophysical parameters of the skin, including trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema index. METHODS: Four different soap formulations (creamy, glycerin containing, syndet, and traditional alkaline soaps) were studied. Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled and 8% solutions (W/V) of the soaps made with distilled water, 20% sodium dodecyl sulfate (positive control) and water (negative control) were applied to their volar forearms as a single dose patch test. The patches remained on the sites for 4 hours. The skin TEWL and erythema index were measured before applying the patches and 24 and 72 hours after removal of them using TEWAmeter and Mexameter probes, respectively. RESULTS: Alkaline and creamy soaps caused a significant increase in TEWL 24 hours after patch removal. However, 72 hours after patch removal, this increase was significant only in case of alkaline soap (P-value = 0.002). A decreasing trend in skin erythema was observed 24 and 72 hours after application of syndent, glycerin, and creamy soaps. In case of creamy soap, this decrease was significant 72 hours after patch removal (P-value = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Traditional alkaline soap increased TEWL and skin erythema, which are signs of prolonged damage to the skin barrier. However, the effects of other formulations were transient, and TEWL returned to baseline at 72 hours. Creamy soap even showed a relative protective effect (decrease in erythema index compared to baseline), probably due to the lanolin content of the formulation.