Effect of green tea extract (Camellia sinensis) on polycystic ovary syndrome induced by letrozole in adult female Wistar rats

Green tea (Camellia sinensis), has always been a focus of interest in traditional medicine for its biochemical and medicinal properties as an antioxidant agent. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age. In the present study, the effects of green tea extract on letrozole-induced PCOS were evaluated. Forty eight adult female Wistar rats were assigned to eight groups in random: healthy control group (no treatment), PCOS control group (letrozole at 1 mg/kg by gavage), three healthy experimental groups (green tea extract at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight by gavage), and three experimental PCOS groups (green tea extract at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight + letrozole at 1 mg/kg by gavage). On the 28th day (at the end of the experiment), the rats were euthanized, and the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and lipid peroxidation were assessed in the ovarian tissue homogenates. The results indicated that the green tea extract significantly increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and decreased lipid peroxidation (p<0.001). Our results showed that the green tea extract was also effective in treating letrozole-induced PCOS in the rats by increasing the activities of the antioxidant enzymes.