Ameliorating effect of dried ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) roots on letrozole- induced polycystic ovary syndrome in female rats

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous, endocrine, metabolic, and multidisciplinary disorder of reproductive-aged females. As such, the study purpose was to discover out the impact of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.,) roots powder on PCOS - caused by Letrozole (1 mg/kg. per orally) for 21 days in female rats. Phenolic and flavonoids compounds in ashwagandha roots using HPLC revealed the presence of gallic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Caffeic acid, Syringic acid, Coumaric acid, Vanillin, Ferulic acid, Naringenin, Daidzein, quercetin, Cinnamic acid, Kaempferol and Hesperetin. The IC 50 value of the Withania somnifera L., roots sample, which is the concentration of the sample necessary to block 50% of the DPPH free radical, was 36.57 ug/ml. Thirty-five female albino rats weighing (150 ± 5g) were separated to 5 groups (7 rats each). The first group was fed on a basal diet as control negative group, the four groups were given orally letrozole to cause PCOS, then one of them was kept as positive PCOS controls. The remaining three groups were fed on basal diet supplemented with three tested levels of dried ashwagandha roots at (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, respectively), for 28 days. The obtained results indicated that Ashwagandha roots powder significantly (p<0.05) reduce body weight, ameliorating lipid profile, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) hormones and Malondialdehyde (MDA), while causing an elevated level of high-density lipoproteins, hormones (Follicle Stimulating Hormone and progesterone) along with increased the activities of the antioxidant enzyme catalase. The highest improvement for the above parameters and histopathological examination of the ovary was recorded at the rats fed on 7.5% Ashwagandha roots powder. Finally, Ashwagandha roots can be considered as a supportive supplement in therapies of PCOS.