Abstract
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disease impacting adult female in which its main features are hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance (IR), hyperinsulinemia, which enhances the probability of getting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to estimate the antidiabetic effect of fenugreek and the anti-androgenic effect of flaxseed and use the combination of both to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome in female rats. Forty Wistar rats were divided into five groups each contained eight rats, Group I: normal control, the rats in Group II-V received Estradiol valerate (4mg/kg in 0.4ml Sesame oil i.p.). Then, Group II served as PCOS control. The rats in Group-III were given fenugreek aqueous extract (100 mg/kg), Group IV received flaxseed aqueous extract (300 ml/kg) and Group V administered a combination of both extracts, for 60 consecutive days after PCOS conformation, extracts were given orally. The results showed that the Estradiol Valerate induced a dignified increase in glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and body weight in comparison to control. Moreover, an outstanding rise in serum LH, FSH, testosterone and a decrease in progesterone level, with no change in estradiol was detected. Furthermore, a significant rise in lipid peroxidation accompanied by an insignificant increase in nitric oxide, a significant decline in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities in ovarian homogenates were also noted. Supplementation of fenugreek and flaxseed significantly attenuated these parameters. The results showed the beneficial effect of fenugreek and flaxseed in improving the impairment of IR and hyperandrogenism with corresponding disrupted parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome.