Evaluation of Methanolic Extract of Peganum harmala on Pituitary-Thyroid Hormones and Histopathological Effect on Female Rats

Peganum harmala from the zigophilauses family has compounds such as: alkaloid, saponine steroid and lignin which in used as a traditional medicine with antibacterial, anti-tumor, inhibition of MOA enzyme, and stimulation of the nerves system. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the methanolic extract of Peganum harmala on serum levels of thyroids hormones parameters of adult rats. In this experimental study, conducted at Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) of Qom in 2012, 60 adult female rats weighed approximately 200±10 grams were divided into 4 groups: the control group, and 3 experimental groups (100,200,400 mg/kg Peganum harmala oral extract daily for 60 days). Finally by collecting the blood samples of the animals, serum level of TSH, T3 and T4 were measured and the collected data were analyzed via SPSS software utilizing ANOVA. The study results revealed that the 200, 400 mg/kg Peganum harmala extract significantly reduced the TSH, T3, T4 levels in rats, whereas experimental group of 100 mg/kg extract Peganum harmala did not demonstrate any significant changes. The study results indicated that the Peganum harmala extract might be used for treatment of hyperthyroidism and its related complications. However further studies are necessitated to explore this concept.