Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of saffron petals on polycystic ovary syndrome in mice

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women. Saffron petals consist of, glycosides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. In this study the effects of saffron petal extract (SPE) in PCOS-induced rats are evaluated.

mice were divided into control, sham, PCOS, and experimental groups. PCOS and experimental groups were injected with testosterone enanthate (1 mg). After 4 weeks, the experimental group was treated with SPE at doses of (50, 200, and 600) mg/kg for 14 days. Ovary and blood samples were collected for histological, serological analyses, in addition, the expression of genes was analyzed. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA.

Results showed that SPE The results showed that the petal extract in PCOS mice reduced luteinizing hormones (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), estrogen (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001). And testosterone (p < 0.05, p < 0.001), increase in follicular stimulating hormones (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and progesterone (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) Decreased the expression of inflammatory genes and increased antioxidant enzymes in serum (p < 0.001).

The present study provides in vivo evidence that saffron petal extract improved the PCOS in mice via increasing antioxidant factors, reducing inflammatory genes expression, and restoring the estrogenic feedback mechanism on the pituitary-ovary system.`