Mehdi Hadijafari - Department of basic sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Samira Khani - Neuroscience Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
Beheshteh Abouhamzeh - Dept. of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maasoume Abdollahi - ۳Dept. of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Mahdi Mirghazanfari - Department of Physiology and Iranian medicine, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders with a spread of around ۱۰% in the world. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) is a medicinal plant with essential oils, steroids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yarrow extract on blood hormones and ovarian histology in rat model of PCOS. Methods: Seventy rats were equally allocated into seven groups: control; control+۱.۲g/kg body weight (BW) yarrow extract; PCOS, induced by single-dose intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate (EV, ۱ mg/۱۰۰g BW); PCOS+۲ mg/kg BW clomiphene citrate (CC); PCOS+۱.۲, ۲.۵ and ۵g/kg BW of yarrow extract for a period of ۳۰ days. Vaginal smear was performed for ۶۰ days after the EV injection. Hormone assays for LH, FSH, progesterone, testosterone and estradiol, and ovarian histology were also performed. Results: CC could moderate serum levels of FSH, estrogen and progesterone and concentrations of LH, LH/FSH and testosterone became normal, whereas CC did not have a significant effect on body and ovary weights, and number of ovarian cysts. Yarrow extract could ameliorate the body and ovary weights, cystic follicles and sex hormones in PCOS induced by EV in a dose-dependent manner. High dose of yarrow extract improved the detrimental effects of PCOS on body and ovary weights, and number of ovarian cysts, and caused them to reach normal levels. Conclusion: Yarrow extract in ۵mg/kg BW may be used as a nutritional supplement for adjunct therapy of PCOS patients.  

Achillea millefolium L, estradiol valerate, estrous cycles, ovary, sex hormone