Cell Journal (Jul 2023)

Synergistic Effects of Capsaicin and Quercetin Improved Induced Premature Ovarian Failure in Rat

  • Saman Moradi,
  • Mozafar Khazaei,
  • Zahra Rashidi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22074/cellj.2023.1989732.1234
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 7
pp. 496 – 507

Abstract

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Objective: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a heterogeneous disorder. POF is defined as hypergonadotropichypoestrogenism in women under 40 years. There is no effective treatment to cure POF patients. Antioxidants preventovarian damage by reducing the lipid peroxidation cascades affecting folliculogenesis, meiosis and ovulation. Hence;the aim of present study was to investigate the effects of Capsaicin (CAP) and Quercetin (QUR) on cyclophosphamide(CYC)-induced POF in rat model.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, POF was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg CYC onfirst day and then 8 mg/kg/day for the following 3 days. After 4 days of CYC administration, rats were randomly dividedinto five groups (n=6/group) as follows: POF, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), CAP (0.5 mg/kg/day), QUR (100 mg/kg/day)and CAP+QUR. Biochemical, hormonal, gene expression, and histological evaluations were performed on blood serumand tissue samples after 14 days of treatment with the CAP and QUR.Results: CAP, QUR and CAP+QUR groups showed signs of restored ovarian function in the form of a significantincrease in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), estrogen, progesterone and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levelsversus POF and DMSO groups and a significant improvement in histological parameters and follicle numbers intreatment groups compared to POF and DMSO groups. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis demonstrated thatCAP and QUR upregulate the expression of BAX gene and decreased the expression of apoptosis inducing genes(BCL-2 and P53).Conclusion: CAP and QUR treatment of CYC-induced POF rats showed a positive effect on reducing ovarian damageby improving TAC levels, expression of apoptotic genes, levels of ovarian reserve markers, and histological parameters.Our results suggest that treatment with CAP or QUR may be a conservative treatment approach for CYC -induced POF.

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