Evidence Hub

Biochanin-A attenuates DHEA-induced polycystic ovary syndrome via upregulation of GDF9 and BMP15 signaling in vivo

Kotipalli RSS, Patnaik SS, Kumar JM, Ramakrishna S, Muralidharan K

Life sciences, 2023

Abstract

AIMS: Phytoestrogens can act as natural estrogens owing to their structural similarity to human estrogens. Biochanin-A (BCA) is a well-studied phytoestrogen with a wide variety of pharmacological activities, whereas not reported in the most frequently encountered endocrinopathy called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of BCA on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) induced PCOS in mice.

MAIN METHODS: Thirty-six female C57BL6/J mice were divided into six groups: sesame oil, DHEA-induced PCOS, DHEA + BCA (10 mg/kg/day), DHEA + BCA (20 mg/kg/day), DHEA + BCA (40 mg/kg/day), and metformin (50 mg/kg/day).

KEY FINDINGS: The results showed a decrease in obesity, elevated lipid parameters, restoration of hormonal imbalances (testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, adiponectin, insulin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone), estrus irregular cyclicity, and pathological changes in the ovary, fat pad, and liver.

SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, BCA supplementation inhibited the over secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and upregulated TGFβ superfamily markers such as GDF9, BMP15, TGFβR1, and BMPR2 in the ovarian milieu of PCOS mice. Furthermore, BCA reversed insulin resistance by increasing circulating adiponectin levels through a negative correlation with insulin levels. Our results indicate that BCA attenuated DHEA-induced PCOS ovarian derangements, which could be mediated by the TGFβ…

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free