Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common form of the
endocrine disease which is associated with metabolic dysfunction. PCOS and type 2
diabetes mellitus are related in multiple aspects and are similar in many pathological
features. Anti-diabetic effects of
Nigella sativa
and protective effects of it on
reproductive system have been suggested in some reports.
Objective: The aim of current study was to evaluate the effects of thymoquinone,
the main components of
Nigella sativa, on PCOS model of rats.
Materials and Methods: Intraperitoneal injection of estradiol valerate for 25 days
was used to induce PCOS in Wistar rats, followed by intraperitoneal administration
of 8 and 16 mg/kg thymoquinone for 30 days. Rats were divided into 5 groups;
control, sham or PCOS, experiment-1 (PCOS and 8 mg/kg thymoquinone),
experiment-2 (PCOS and 16 mg/kg thymoquinone), and metformin (PCOS and
metformin administration, 100 mg/kg) groups. All of the animals were subjected to
serum biochemical analysis of blood and histopathological study of ovaries.
Results: Estradiol valerate induced PCOS while administration of thymoquinone
recovered it. The body weight, ovarian morphology, and ovulation had been
improved and the serum biochemical parameters including glucose, triglyceride,
total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, luteinizing
hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone were reversed after thymoquinone
intervention.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that thymoquinone has improvement effects on an
ovarian function and ovulation in the PCOS rat model. Therefore, thymoquinone
and
Nagilla sativa could be used as a protective agent and as an adjunct treatment in
PCOS patients.
