Ameliorative Effects of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Nigella Sativa on Follicular Atresia and the Gonadal Steroid Hormones Level in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder with an unknown basis. The most reasonable indication of the existence of PCOS is the increase of blood androgen (Hyperandrogenism). Nigella sativa (NS) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is an annual herb that is used in different curative cases and contains pharmacological properties including anti-infertility, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, etc. The present study was conducted to investigate the ameliorative effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on follicular atresia, the level of gonadal steroid hormones in a rat model of PCOS. Methods: In this research, 32 mature female rats were divided into four groups: Control, PCOS- induced (4mg estradiol valerate, IM), PCOS+NS (200mg/Kg/day), and PCOS+NS (600mg/Kg/day). The rats received NS extract by gavage for 63 days. After treatment, the animals were weighed and sacrificed and their blood serum samples were taken to measure steroid hormones level. On the other hand, the ovaries were collected and weighed and the tissue incisions from obtained ovaries to study follicular atresia were prepared. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests. P