Volume 18, Issue 10 (October 2020)                   IJRM 2020, 18(10): 865-876 | Back to browse issues page


XML Persian Abstract Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Shamsi M, Nejati V, Najafi G, Khajeh Pour S. Protective effects of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice: An experimental study. IJRM 2020; 18 (10) :865-876
URL: http://ijrm.ir/article-1-1479-en.html
1- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. , maryam19sh@yahoo.com
2- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
3- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
4- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA.
Abstract:   (2145 Views)
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an oxidative state resulting in ovarian dysfunction. Licorice is one of the natural antioxidants used for the treatment of infertility.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice.
Materials and Methods: thirty-two female NMIR mice were divided into four groups (n = 8/each): control group receiving no treatment (group I); PCOS group injected with estradiol valerate once daily for 21 days (group II); and experimental groups receiving either 100 mg/kg (group III) or 150 mg/kg (group IV) licorice by gavage along with estradiol valerate once daily for 3 wk. Serum levels of the testosterone and estrogen were measured using ELISA kit. Histological study of ovaries was evaluated, and oocyte maturation, fertilization rate, and embryo development were determined after in vitro maturation.
Results: Experimental groups (III, IV) had significantly higher testosterone and estradiol levels compared to the PCOS group (p ≤ 0.001). A significant increase in the number of healthy follicles (primary, preantral follicles) (p = 0.001), corpus luteum (p = 0.001) with significant decrease in the number of atretic follicles (primary, preantral, cystic follicles) (p ≤ 0.001) was seen in the experimental groups. Increase in the fertilization rate (p ≤ 0.001) and blastocyst stage embryos (p = 0.02, p = 0.004) were observed in the experimental groups.
Conclusion: It appears that the two doses (100 mg and 150 mg) of licorice could decrease ovarian cyst and improve the fertilization rate of oocyte and embryo development in PCOS mice. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two experimental groups.
Full-Text [PDF 1317 kb]   (1009 Downloads) |   |   Full-Text (HTML)  (441 Views)  
Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: Reproductive Biology

References
1. Li A, Zhang L, Jiang J, Yang N, Liu Y, Cai L, et al. Follicular hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with normal circulating testosterone levels. J Biomed Res 2018; 32: 208-214.
2. Escobar-Morreale HF. Polycystic ovary syndrome: definition, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018; 14: 270-284. [DOI:10.1038/nrendo.2018.24] [PMID]
3. Nelson VL, Legro RS, Strauss JF, McAllister JM. Augmented androgen production is a stable steroidogenic phenotype of propagated theca cells from polycystic ovaries. Mol Endocrinol 1999; 13: 946-957. [DOI:10.1210/mend.13.6.0311] [PMID]
4. Wood JR, Ho CKM, Nelson-Degrave VL, McAllister JM, Strauss JF, et al. The molecular signature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) theca cells defined by gene expression profiling. J Reprod Immunol 2004; 63: 51-60. [DOI:10.1016/j.jri.2004.01.010] [PMID]
5. Caldwell ASL, Middleton LJ, Jimenez M, Desai R, Mcmahon AC, Allan CM, et al. Characterization of reproductive, metabolic, and endocrine features of polycystic ovary syndrome in female hyper androgenic mouse models. Endocrinology 2014; 155: 3146-3159. [DOI:10.1210/en.2014-1196] [PMID]
6. Zhao JZ, Zhou W, Zhang W, Ge HS, Huang XF, Lin JJ. In vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes from unstimulated ovaries in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2009; 91: 2568-2571. [DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.03.059] [PMID]
7. Chang EM, Song HS, Lee DR, Lee WS, Yoon TK. In vitro maturation of human oocytes. its role in infertility treatment and new possibilities. Clin Exp Reprod Med 2014; 41: 41-46. [DOI:10.5653/cerm.2014.41.2.41] [PMID] [PMCID]
8. Hosseinkhani A, Asadi N, Pasalar M, Zarshenas MM. Traditional persian medicine and management of metabolic dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome. J Tradit Complement Med 2017; 8: 17-23. [DOI:10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.04.006] [PMID] [PMCID]
9. Lee JH, Jo J. Successful treatment with Korean herbal medicine and lifestyle management in an obese woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Integr Med Res 2017; 6: 325-328. [DOI:10.1016/j.imr.2017.06.002] [PMID] [PMCID]
10. Nomura T, Fukai T, Akiyama T. Chemistry of phenolic compounds of licorice (Glycyrrhiza species) and their estrogenic and cytotoxic activities. Pure Appl Chem 2002; 74: 1199-1206. [DOI:10.1351/pac200274071199]
11. Shang H, Cao S, Wang J, Zheng H, Putheti R. Glabridin from Chinese herb licorice inhibits fatigue in mice. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2009; 7: 17-23. [DOI:10.4314/ajtcam.v7i1.57225] [PMID] [PMCID]
12. Vaya J, Belinky PA, Aviram M. Antioxidant constituents from licorice roots: isolation, structure elucidation and antioxidative capacity toward LDL oxidation. Free Radic Biol Med 1997; 23: 302-313. [DOI:10.1016/S0891-5849(97)00089-0]
13. Corson SL. Efficacy and clinical profile of a new oral contraceptive containing norgestimate. US clinical trials. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1990; 152 (Supp1.): 25-31. [DOI:10.3109/00016349009156503] [PMID]
14. Tamura Y, Nishikawa T, Yamada K, Yamamoto M, Kumagai A. Effects of glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives on delta 4-5 alpha-and 5 beta-reductase in rat liver. Arzneimittelforschung 1979; 29: 647-649.
15. Latif SA, Conca TJ, Morris DJ. The effects of the licorice derivative, glycyrrhetinic acid, on hepatic 3α-and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and 5α-and 5β-reductase pathways of metabolism of aldosterone in male rats. Steroids 1990; 55: 52-58. [DOI:10.1016/0039-128X(90)90024-6]
16. Lakshmi T, Geetha RV. Glycyrrhiza glabra linn commonly known as licorice: a therapeutic review. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 2011; 3: 20-25.
17. Sakamoto K, Wakabayashi K. Inhibitory effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on testosterone production in rat gonads. Endocrinol Jpn 1988; 35: 333-342. [DOI:10.1507/endocrj1954.35.333] [PMID]
18. Arentz S, Smith CA, Abbott J, Fahey P, Cheema BS, Bensoussan A. Combined lifestyle and herbal medicine in overweight women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res 2017; 31: 1330-1340. [DOI:10.1002/ptr.5858] [PMID] [PMCID]
19. Tung NH, Shoyama Y, Wada M, Tanaka H. Two activators of in vitro fertilization in mice from licorice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 467: 447-450. [DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.09.088] [PMID]
20. Yang H, Kim HJ, Pyun BJ, Lee HW. Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats. Integr Med Res 2018; 7: 264-270. [DOI:10.1016/j.imr.2018.05.003] [PMID] [PMCID]
21. Barzegar MH, Khazali H, Kalantar SM, Khoradmehr A. Effect of Citrullus colocynthis hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats model: An experimental study. Int J Reprod Biomed 2017; 15: 661-668. [DOI:10.29252/ijrm.15.10.9] [PMID] [PMCID]
22. Mesbah F, Moslem M, Vojdani Z, Mirkhani H. Does metformin improve in vitro maturation and ultrastructure of oocytes retrieved from estradiol valerate polycystic ovary syndrome-induced rats. J Ovarian Res 2015; 8: 74-83. [DOI:10.1186/s13048-015-0203-x] [PMID] [PMCID]
23. Jahan S, Abid A, Khalid S, Afsar T, Ul-Ain Q, Shaheen G, et al. Therapeutic potentials of Quercetin in management of polycystic ovarian syndrome using Letrozole induced rat model: A histological and a biochemical study. J Ovarian Res 2018; 11: 26-35. [DOI:10.1186/s13048-018-0400-5] [PMID] [PMCID]
24. Radavelli-Bagatini S, Blair AR, Proietto J, Spritzer PM, Andrikopoulos S. The New Zealand obese mouse model of obesity insulin resistance and poor breeding performance: evaluation of ovarian structure and function. J Endocrinol 2011; 209: 307-315. [DOI:10.1530/JOE-11-0022] [PMID]
25. Ahmadi M, Rostamzadeh A, Fathi F, Mohammadi M, Rezaie MJ. The effect of Melatonin on histological changes of ovary in induced polycystic ovary syndrome model in mice. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2017; 22: 255-259. [DOI:10.1016/j.mefs.2017.03.009]
26. Belbasi M, Jorsaraei SGA, Gholamitabar Tabari M, Khanbabaei R. Effect of fetal mouse lung tissue Co-culture on in vitro maturation of mouse immature oocytes. Cell J 2017; 19: 476-481.
27. Castro SV, Carvalho AA, Silva CMG, Santos FW, Campello CC, de Figueiredo JR, et al. Frozen and fresh ovarian tissue require different culture media to promote in vitro development of bovine preantral follicles. Biopreserv Biobank 2014; 12: 317-324. [DOI:10.1089/bio.2014.0020] [PMID]
28. Tavana S, Eimani H, Azarnia M, Shahverdi A, Eftekhari-Yazdi P. Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract on in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo development of mouse oocytes. Cell J 2012; 13: 259-264.
29. Manneras L, Cajander S, Lonn M, Stener-Victorin E. Acupuncture and exercise restore adipose tissue expression of sympathetic markers and improve ovarian morphology in rats with dihydrotestosterone-induced PCOS. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2009; 296: 1124-1131. [DOI:10.1152/ajpregu.90947.2008] [PMID]
30. Dewailly D, Robin G, Peigne M, Decanter C, Pigny P, Catteau-Jonard S. Interactions between androgens, FSH, anti-Mullerian hormone and estradiol during folliculogenesis in the human normal and polycystic ovary. Hum Reprod Update 2016; 22: 709-724. [DOI:10.1093/humupd/dmw027] [PMID]
31. De Leo V, la Marca A, Ditto A, Morgante G, Cianci A. Effects of metformin on gonadotropin-induced ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 1999; 72: 282-285. [DOI:10.1016/S0015-0282(99)00208-3]
32. Tung NH, Shoyama Y, Wada M, Tanaka H. Improved in vitro fertilization ability of mouse sperm caused by the addition of licorice extract to the preincubation medium. The Open Reproductive Science Journal 2014; 6: 1-7. [DOI:10.2174/1874255601406010001]
33. Madak-Erdogan Z, Gong P, Zhao YC, Xu L, Wrobel KU, Hartman JA, et al. Dietary licorice root supplementation reduces diet-induced weight gain, lipid deposition, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized mice without stimulating reproductive tissues and mammary gland. Mol Nutr Food Res 2016; 60: 369-380. [DOI:10.1002/mnfr.201500445] [PMID] [PMCID]
34. Hajirahimkhan A, Simmler C, Yuan Y, Anderson JR, Chen SN, Nikolić D, et al. Evaluation of estrogenicactivity of licorice species in comparison with hops used in botanicals for menopausal symptoms. PLoS One 2013; 8: e67947: 1-11. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0067947] [PMID] [PMCID]
35. Ahmadi A, Mostafavi M. [Study on the effects of licorice root hydroalcoholiclicorice extract on mice uterus histological structure and level of testosterone improvement with hyperandrogenism following experimental polycystic ovary syndrome]. The Journal of Urmia University of Medical Sciences 2015; 26: 571-581. (in Persian)
36. Armanini D, Castello R, Scaroni C, Bonanni G, Faccini G, Pellati D, et al. Treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome with spironolactone plus licorice. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2007; 131: 61-67. [DOI:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.10.013] [PMID]
37. Jungbauer A, Medjakovic S. Phytoestrogens and the metabolic syndrome. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 139: 277-289. [DOI:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2012.12.009] [PMID]
38. Esmailii Z, Hayati Roodbari N, Mohammady Gorji S, Parivar K. [Effect of licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on in vitro maturation of immature oocytes and embryonic development in NMRI mice]. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci 2017; 27: 26-37. (in Persian)
39. Gupta S, Malhotra N, Sharma D, Chandra A, Ashok A. Oxidative stress and its role in female infertility and assisted reproduction: clinical implications. International Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2009; 2: 147-164.
40. Ju HS, Li XL, Zhao BL, Han ZW, Xin WJ. Effects of glycyrrhiza flavonoid on lipid peroxidation and active oxygen radicals. Yao Xue Xue Bao 1989; 24: 807-812.
41. Somjen D, Knoll E, Vaya J, Stern N, Tamir S. Estrogen-like activity of licorice root constituents: glabridin and glabrene, in vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2004; 91: 147-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.04.003 [DOI:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.04.008] [PMID]
42. Low YL, Dunning AM, Dowsett M, Folkerd E, Doody D, Taylor J, et al. Phytoestrogen exposure is associated with circulating sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women and interact with ESR1 and NR1I2 gene variants. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007; 16: 1009-1016. [DOI:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-06-0899] [PMID]
43. Bathla H, Guraya SS, Sanghal GK. Role of estradiol in the capacitation and acrosome reaction of hamster epididymal spermatozoa in the isolated uterus of mice incubated in vitro. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1999; 43: 211-217.
44. Kim SH, Park MJ Effects of phytoestrogen on sexual development. Korean J Pediatr 2012; 55: 265-271. [DOI:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.8.265] [PMID] [PMCID]
45. Tung NH, Tanaka H, Tsujimura A, Miyagawa Y, Wada M, Fujii S, et al. In vitro fertilization with mouse sperm activated by components of licorice root extract. Nat Prod Chem Res 2016; 4: 1-4.

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb