Amaranthus hybridus (Amaranthaceae) prevents the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide on ovarian function in Wistar rats: An experimental study

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an anticancer agent, but its chronic administration induces ovarian toxicity. Objective: We evaluated the effects of aqueous extract (AE) and methanol extract (ME) of Amaranthus hybridus (A. hybridus) on CP-induced ovarian toxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: ۴۰ female Wistar rats (۱۰ wk, ۱۷۰-۲۰۰ gr) were distributed into ۸ groups (n = ۵/each) as follows: ۱) healthy control; ۲) CP+distilled water (۱۰ ml/kg/d); ۳) CP+۳%-tween ۸۰ (۱۰ mL/kg/d); ۴) CP+clomiphene citrate (۲ mg/kg/d); ۵, ۶) CP+AE of A. hybridus (۵۵ and ۱۱۰ mg/kg/d); and ۷, ۸) CP+ME of A. hybridus (۵۵ and ۱۱۰ mg/kg/d). After ۲۸ days of treatment, estrus cyclicity, ovarian and uterine weights as well as estradiol levels and ovarian histology were determined. Results: CP induced ovarian toxicity after ۲۸ days of exposure. More specifically, CP disturbed the estrus cycle, decreased ovary and uterus weights (p = ۰.۰۴), and the ۱۷-β estradiol level (p = ۰.۰۴), and induced severe ovarian damages. Remarkably, A. hybridus significantly increased (p = ۰.۰۳) the ovarian weight (AE and ME at all doses) and uterus weight (ME at ۱۱۰ mg/kg/d), compared with the CP-treated rats. Moreover, the ۱۷-β estradiol level was significantly elevated (p = ۰.۰۲) in rats given clomiphene citrate and A. hybridus (AE ۱۱۰ mg/kg/d; ME ۵۵ mg/kg/d). Finally, the ovaries of rats given plant extracts had many corpus luteum and normal follicles, and no cystic follicles. Conclusion: A. hybridus prevented the detrimental effects of CP on ovarian function, which could support its traditional use as a fertility enhancer.

Keywords:

Cyclophosphamide , Amaranthus hybridus , Toxicity , Estradiol , Rat. , سیکلوفسفامید , تاج خروس سبز , سمیت , استرادیول , موش صحرایی.