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International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2019, Volume : 7, Issue : 3
First page : (25) Last page : (37)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.7465

The Therapeutic Effects of Juglan Regia Linn (Walnut) Oil on Letrozole Induced Polycystic Ovaries in Rats

Zoha Khan*, Lubna Naz, Sakina Shabbir and Amber Ayaz Memon

Department of Physiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author E-mail: lunaz@uok.edu.pk
Received: 15.04.2019 | Revised: 23.05.2019 | Accepted: 27.05.2019  

 ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND
Juglans regia L. (Walnut) is a plant of significant economic and medicinal importance. It is a source of phytosterol, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and K, melatonin, antioxidants, monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) and lowers cholesterol by reducing low-density lipoprotein concentration. It is a phytoestrogen that is seen to increase sex hormone binding globulin, improve insulin sensitivity and androgen levels. Walnut with these nutritional properties ameliorates the hormone profile in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women and can be considered as a positive treatment regime. This study was aimed to determine the antiandrogenic effect of Juglans regia L. on letrozole induced PCOS rats, a cure that is on hand for the victims, less detrimental and economically accessible.
METHOD
Age matched Female Wistar rats were allotted into 3 groups (n=6). Control remained untreated while PCOS was induced in both letrozole treated and letrozole + walnut treated groups by administering a dose of 1mg/kg body weight of letrozole per day for 21 days. Rats of group III from day 6 onward were given walnut oil in 1mg/kg of body weight for 15 days as a cotreatment. Every morning at 10 am their vaginal smears were taken to observe their estrous cycle. All the rats were weighed daily. On 22th day of experiment the rats were sacrificed and their ovaries were extracted for histological investigation.
RESULT
Letrozole induced PCO rats showed atretic follicles and thin granulosa layers and remained in diestrus phase throughout the experiment. Walnut treated PCOS rats also demonstrated diestrus phase throughout the treatment with few alterations in the number and the type of cells. Weight remained constant and there was a significant decrease observed in glucose, lipid, cholesterol and testosterone of Letrozole + Walnut treated rats.
CONCLUSION
Walnut’s potential for treating the symptoms and causes of PCOS was observed in this study and we concluded that with proper amount of dose, walnut oil may be considered as a significant dietary-therapeutic agent for PCOS patients.

Key words: PCOS, Juglans regia L., Walnut, Letrozole, Phytoestrogen, Testosterone, Cholesterol.

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Khan, Z., Naz, L., Shabbir, S. and Memon, A.A., The Therapeutic Effects of Juglan Regia Linn (Walnut) Oil on Letrozole Induced Polycystic Ovaries in Rats, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.7(3): 25-37 (2019). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.7465