# Ameliorative effects of Corchorus olitorius leaf ethanolic extract on letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats

## TL;DR

This study shows that Corchorus olitorius leaf extract can help reduce symptoms of PCOS in rats by improving hormonal and physical markers.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the ameliorative effects of Corchorus olitorius extract on PCOS in rats for the first time.

## Key findings

- C. olitorius extract normalized vaginal cytology and improved ovarian and uterine morphology in PCOS rats.
- The extract helped restore hormonal levels, glucose, and lipid profiles in PCOS-induced rats.
- Treatment with the extract showed significant improvements compared to the PCOS control group.

## Abstract

To evaluate the effects of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract on induced polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) rats.

36 female Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n=6) including Sham, PCOS + vehicle (Dimethyl sulfoxide), PCOS + Clomiphene citrate, PCOS + 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg Corchorus olitorius. The Sham group was administered CMC (carboxymethylcellulose) (0.5%) 1 ml/0.1 kg, while the PCOS groups were administered letrozole (1 mg/kg) dissolved in 0.5% CMC solution for 21 days via oral gavage. The PCOS condition was established to be successful when Papanicolaou-stained vaginal cytology of days 13-21 showed a greater dominance of clusters of empty cornified squamous cells. The duration of treatments was for 14 days ( via oral gavage) and euthanization occurred on the 15th day. Hormonal levels, glucose level, lipid profile, hematological indices, liver function, kidney function, and histopathological studies of the ovaries and uteri were all determined.

PCOS induction led to abnormalities in hormonal levels, lipid profile, glucose levels, ovarian morphology, uterine morphology, and vaginal cytology of the PCOS rats compared to the Sham group (p<0.05). C. olitorius leaf extract showed its ameliorative effects in terms of normalizing the altered vaginal cytology, restoring most parameters, and improving the appearance of ovarian and uterine morphology.

These results suggest that C. olitorius leaves ameliorate PCOS symptoms in the studied biochemical and histological parameters.