Phytochemical and Molecular Insights Into the Anti-PCOS Potential of Anchusa Strigosa: Targeting Hormones, Biochemical Markers, and WNT Genes
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by reproductive dysfunction, oxidative stress, and metabolic abnormalities. The present study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of a hydroalcoholic extract of Anchusa strigosa in a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model and explored its effects on ovarian Wnt signaling. Female Wistar rats (n = 36) were divided into normal control, PCOS control, A. strigosa low-dose (100 mg/kg), A. strigosa high-dose (250 mg/kg), and metformin (50 mg/kg) groups. Phytochemical profiling by FTIR and GC-MS identified 114 bioactive compounds enriched with phenolic, thiol, and isothiocyanate functional groups. Letrozole administration significantly increased body weight from 174.33 ± 1.80 g to 249.66 ± 1.66 g and elevated malondialdehyde levels from 45.42 ± 1.92 to 70.20 ± 1.51 while reducing superoxide dismutase from 28.97 ± 0.55 to 16.82 ± 0.59 and glutathione from 4.09 ± 0.07 to 1.83 ± 0.10 compared with normal controls. Treatment with A. strigosa, particularly at 250 mg/kg, markedly restored estrous cyclicity, reduced final body weight to 225.27 ± 0.57 g, decreased malondialdehyde to 60.90 ± 0.48, improved superoxide dismutase to 22.57 ± 0.27 and glutathione to 3.22 ± 0.09, normalized reproductive hormones and lipid profiles, restored ovarian morphology, and significantly upregulated ovarian Wnt7a and Wnt8b gene and protein expression. Although metformin produced slightly superior therapeutic effects, A.…
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