Improved hormonal and oxidative changes by Royal Jelly in the rat model of PCOS: An experimental study

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine and complex metabolic disorder, associated with anovulation, changes in sex hormone, biochemical factors, and ovarian tissue. Royal Jelly (RJ) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. OBJECTIVE: To examine the therapeutic effect of RJ on PCOS-related hormonal and biochemical changes in a rat model of PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 42 female Wistar rats (weighing 180–200 gr, aged 10–12 wk) were divided into six groups (n = 7/each): control; PCOS; RJ 100 mg/kg; RJ 200 mg/kg; PCOS + RJ 100 mg/kg; and PCOS + RJ 200 mg/kg. After 21 days, the animals were weighed and dissected. The serums were used for nitric oxide (NO) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and estradiol and progesterone measurements. The ovaries were assessed for histological changes. RESULTS: PCOS increased estradiol and NO levels, and decreased progesterone and FRAP levels. In PCOS + RJ groups, the progesterone (p = 0.01) and FRAP levels (p [Formula: see text] 0.001) increased and the estradiol and NO (p [Formula: see text] 0.001) levels decreased significantly. Moreover, the number of mature follicles (p = 0.01) and corpus luteum increased (p [Formula: see text] 0.001), and ovarian and uterus weight deceased significantly (p [Formula: see text] 0.001). CONCLUSION: RJ improved estradiol, progesterone, FRAP, and NO levels, and ovarian structure in the rat model of PCOS.