ABSTRACT

Various medicinal herb plants are being used in place of metformin for treatment of polycystic ovarian disease. Purpose: To assess the influence of aqueous extract of Withania coagulans (aqWC) on serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels in polycystic ovary disease induced rats.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methodology: Forty female Sprague Dawley were divided into 04 groups. Group A (Control) and Disease induced group. Standardized laboratory diet was fed to Group A while the disease induced group was given standardized diet and letrozole solution orally (1mg/kg) for 21 days for Polycystic ovary syndrome induction, which was established by observing estrous cycle of rats. Disease induced group was then distributed as Group B (PCOS control), C (Withania coagulans treated) and D (Metformin treated) for 14 days. Sampling was done from Group A and B (after 21 days) and Group C and D at the end of experiment in which serum Follicle stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone levels (μU/ml) and Ovarian weight (mg) were assessed.

Statistical analysis: Data analyzed by SPSS 21.0v.

Results: Follicle stimulating hormone showed significantly (P<0.05) increased levels and serum Luteinizing hormone showed significantly decreased levels in Group C and D rats in comparison to Group B rats. Ovarian weight also returned to normalcy in Group C and D.

Conclusion: This study concluded that Withania coagulans can be a substitute for ameliorating deranged gonadotropin levels inpolycystic ovary disease. Key Words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome; Estrus cycle; Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).