Protective effects of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice: An experimental study

Abstract

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.
 Conclusions: 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.
 Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Mice, Licorice, Histology, In vitro maturation, In vitro fertilization.

Thymoquinone improves folliculogenesis, sexual hormones, gene expression of apoptotic markers and antioxidant enzymes in polycystic ovary syndrome rat model

“…Also, both doses of thymoquinone could decrease the number of atretic follicles that sig-nificantly increased in PCOS rats. This result is in accordance with Shamsi et al, who reported that licorice extract had a significant decrease in the number of atretic follicles (Shamsi et al, 2020).…”

Long Term Oral Administration of Oregano Essence Effectively Relieves Polycystic Ovarian Rats through Endocrine and Inflammatory Balance

“…e examined healthy or atretic follicles were defined based on their morphology and diameter as follows: (1) primordial follicles (PRIF), where oocyte closely surrounded by one layer of flat granulosa cells,(2) primary follicles (PF), where the growing oocyte is surrounded by one layer of cuboidal granulosa cells, (3) preantral follicles (PAF), where several layers of granulosa cells surround the oocyte with no cavity within, (4) antral follicles (AF), where the oocyte is surrounded by cumulus oophorus cells within the cavity of the antrum, forming, (5)cystic follicles (CF),and(6) CL. Accordingly [16,17], morphological changes for the evaluation and enumeration of follicles were applied to characterize the follicular atresia and pyknotic nuclei in the granulosa layers; as such, from the basement membrane of oocytes, particularly degeneration of the granulosa layer was apparent in abnormal oocytes.…”

Female infertility and herbal medicine: An overview of the new findings

“…Due to the presence of phytoestrogens with aromatase‐inducing and 17HSD‐inhibiting activities, licorice can reduce testosterone synthesis and therefore can be used to treat women with PCOS (Kaur et al., 2013 ). In addition, according to a study on PCOS‐induced mice, licorice extract was shown to improve ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryonic development in a dose‐dependent manner (100 to 150 mg kg −1 day −1 for 21 days) compared to the control group (Shamsi et al., 2020 ).…”

“…In addition, according to a study on PCOS-induced mice, licorice extract was shown to improve ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryonic development in a dose-dependent manner (100 to 150 mg kg −1 day −1 for 21 days) compared to the control group (Shamsi et al, 2020).…”