Metotreksat Kaynaklı Ovaryum Hasarında Crataegus Monogyna Etkisinin Araştırılması

Purpose: Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist, is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. Despite its therapeutic benefits, MTX has been associated with toxicity in several organs, especially those of the genital system. Crataegus monogyna (CM) is a flavonoid-rich plant commonly found in many regions and known for its antioxidant and protective properties. Although MTX-induced ovarian damage has been previously studied, no research has investigated the potential protective effect of CM on this damage. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of CM on MTX-induced ovarian injury in rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty female rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6): Control: Received only water and food ad libitum for 14 days. Sham: Given a single dose of physiological saline on day 1 and distilled water by gavage for 14 days. MTX: Received a single intraperitoneal dose of 20 mg/kg MTX on day 1. MTX+CM: Treated with 200 mg/kg CM via gavage one hour before MTX administration and continued CM for 14 days. CM: Received 200 mg/kg CM via gavage for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Ovarian tissues were collected, fixed in 10% formalin, processed, and examined histologically.Results: In the MTX group, vascular congestion and hemorrhage, atrophic ovarian follicles, collagen accumulation, and mononuclear cell infiltration were observed. These pathological findings were significantly reduced in the MTX+CM treatment group.Conclusion: It was observed that CM showed a protective effect against MTX-induced ovarian damage.