Sakineh Falahati - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Farah Farokhi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Gholamreza Najafi - Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Ali Shalizar Jalali - Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Background: Increased plasma cholesterol is known to cause ovarian damages through oxidative stress (OS) induction. The main goal of current study was to determine the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of crataegus aronia (HECA) as a potent antioxidant on oxidant/antioxidant status in hypercholesterolemic rats ovary.Methods: In this experimental study, 24 female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups including: control, HECA (200 mg/kg/day), diet-induced hypercholesterolemia (DIH) and DIH + HECA groups. After 30 days, ovaries were quickly removed following euthanasia in order to analyze the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity in all experimental groups.Result: Hypercholesterolemia resulted in a significant reduction in CAT activity with an increase in MDA level in the rat ovaries. Interestingly, HECA co-treatment significantly restored above-noted values compared to DIH group.Conclusion: The results suggest that HECA can play a protective role against OS-evoked ovarian damages in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Antioxidant defense system, Hypercholesterolemia, Ovary, Rat, Crataegus aronia