Protective Effect of Marjoram Against Letrozole-Induced Ovarian Damage in Rats with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Entails Activation of Nrf2 and Suppression of NF-κB
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate marjoram’s ameliorative effects in a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model and to explore its mechanism of action, focusing on Nrf2 activation and NF-κB suppression in ovarian tissue. Methods: In this study, PCOS was induced by the oral administration of letrozole (1 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Rats were then divided into six groups: control (0.5% CMC), letrozole, letrozole + metformin (2 mg/100 g), and letrozole + MRJ extract (20, 40, or 60 mg/kg). All groups received oral treatment for 21 days. Biochemical analysis was performed using serum and plasma; while ovarian tissue homogenate was used for antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory and apoptosis biomarkers. Results: The letrozole-treated animals exhibited significant increases in final body weights, as well as ovary length and weight. In terms of biochemical parameters, there were significant increases in fasting blood glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, and serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), and LDL-c and a decrease in HDL levels. Concerning the hormonal profile, testosterone and LH levels were significantly elevated while a notable decrease in FSH and estradiol levels was observed. Similarly, letrozole-treated rats showed significantly elevated levels of MDA and many other inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1. A significant increase in the markers of intrinsic cell apoptosis, such as Bax and caspase-3, and the reduced levels of Bcl-2 and antioxidant mediators,…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Increased expression of circulating miRNA-93 in women with polycystic ovary syndrome may represent a novel, non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis
- Identification of key genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer using an integrated bioinformatics analysis
- Identification of key pathways and genes in polycystic ovary syndrome via integrated bioinformatics analysis and prediction of small therapeutic molecules
- Regulation of Androgen Receptor Expression Alters AMPK Phosphorylation in the Endometrium: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Effect of oral administration of low-dose follicle stimulating hormone on hyperandrogenized mice as a model of polycystic ovary syndrome
- Systems pharmacology to investigate the interaction of berberine and other drugs in treating polycystic ovary syndrome
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.