Therapeutic Investigation of Standardized Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) for Its Potential against Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Experimental Animals’ Model: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an heterogenous, endocrine, metabolic, and multidisciplinary disorder of reproductive-aged females that aggravates insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, obesity, menstrual irregularities, and infertility. Bitter melon is consumed as vegetable in various parts of the world. The purpose of this study was to provide the rationale for the folkloric uses of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) in reproductive abnormalities. HPLC analysis of standardized aqueous methanolic extract of bitter melon revealed the presence of various phytochemicals such as quercetin, gallic acid, benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid. Twenty-five Swiss albino adult female rats (120–130 g) were acquired and divided into two groups (5 + 20). Letrozole (1 mg/kg p.o.) was used for four weeks to induce PCOS in twenty rats. Disease induction was confirmed by vaginal smear cytology analysis under the microscope. Animals were further divided into four groups, with one group as PCOS group, and the remaining three are treated with standardized extract of bitter melon (500 mg/kg p.o.), bitter melon plus metformin (500 mg/kg p.o.), and metformin alone for the period of next four weeks. After four weeks, the rats were euthanized at diestrus stage. Ovaries of the experimental animals were removed and fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and blood samples were obtained from direct cardiac puncture and stored. Ovaries histopathological analysis showed cystic follicles (9–10) in PCOS group, while, in all the treatment groups, we found developing and mature follicles. Similarly, hormone analysis showed significant ( p < 0.001 ) reduction of LH surge, insulin, and testosterone levels and improvement in FSH levels. Lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes status were also significantly ( p < 0.001 ) improved. In conclusion, the study validates the bitter melon potential as an insulin sensitizer and ovulation enhancer and authenticates its potential in PCOS management.

Quercetin and polycystic ovary syndrome

“…After being orally administered with QUR (25 mg/kg) for 28 days, the results of hormone levels in DHEAinduced PCOS rats were similar to the previous study, that the free T levels were reduced in the QUR and metformin groups (Mahmoud et al, 2022). The serum free T in PCOS rats was also decreased significantly by using the QUR-rich extract of Bitter Melon and Fagonia indica (Hussain et al, 2022;Younas et al, 2022).…”

“…Frontiers (Shah and Patel, 2016;Wang et al, 2017;Hong et al, 2018;Jahan et al, 2018;Neisy et al, 2019;Jafari Khorchani et al, 2020;Olaniyan et al, 2020;Mihanfar et al, 2021;Zheng et al, 2022a;Hussain et al, 2022;Mahmoud et al, 2022;Younas et al, 2022) were included and are shown in Table 2. The PCOS-related animal studies involved in this review and the changes in the related indicators after QUR treatment were basically from the data letrozole induced or the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) induced PCOS model.…”

Pharmacological Potential of Hippophae rhamnoides L. Nano-Emulsion for Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Animals’ Model: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

“…All the results of HR oil and HR nano-emulsion are compared and discussed in the upcoming sections. The disease was induced by the administration of letrozole (1 mg/kg) for 5 weeks . Disease induction was confirmed by vaginal smear analysis (Figure ), and weight variations were recorded (Table and Figure ).…”

“…It has a good rationale with PCOS because in PCOS, there is background inflammation and ROS production that might have a role in disease progression . Thus, the HR oil has good DPPH activity-depicted HR potential to reduce the disease progression and might be involved in hormonal imbalance restoration. ,− Due to the presence of all the above phytoconstituents and omega-3 fatty acids, HR showed good antioxidant potential. Antioxidant potential is depicted with good DPPH values.…”

“…Vaginal smear analysis revealed the confirmation of the disease in the PCOS group as the number of leukocytes increased plentifully presenting the diestrus stage of the estrous cycle (Figure ). Rats with PCOS stayed in their diestrus stage for a persistent period. , Meanwhile, the treatment with H. rhamnoides L. obliterates the abnormality of the estrous cycle and regulates the cyclicity (Figure ).…”