(P07-003-24) Development of Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Functional Foods and Their Role in Reproductive Physiology of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Induced Female Rats

Objectives: Examine the functional foods in rats' diets to regulate reproductive hormones and improve insulin sensitivity and free radicals’ inflammation in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: Thirty-six female Albino Wistar rats weighing 130±10g each were randomly assigned to four groups (n=9). The rats were housed ethically and kept for 90 days under the approved protocol with reference number GCUF/ERC/228. The groups were named NC, PC, FF-1, and FF-2. PC and NC were positive and negative control respectively received a basal diet only. FF-1 and FF-2 were the experimental groups that received 12:16, 8:12,8:12 fennel, sesame, and flax seeds along with 0.2, 0.08 moringa, Stevia powder in 100g basal diet respectively. All diets were isocaloric 3680 kcal/kg and isonitrogenous 16%. The rats in the PC, FF-1, and FF-2 groups were given estradiol valerate salt to induce PCOS. The samples were collected during the last six consecutive estrous cycles. Daily water and feed intake, along with weekly weight changes, were recorded. In the last week of the trial, samples of blood, feces, and ovary tissue were collected for reproductive hormones, lipid profile, oxidative stress, serum insulin, digestibility and histology.

Results: Water and dry matter intake remained the same (p>0.05). However, FF-1 and FF-2 showed (p≤0.05) higher digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, and ash compared to NC with NFE and CF (p≤0.05) reduced. Weight changes were significant in FF-1 and FF-2 than NC and PC, with FF-2 losing 75g from PC and 25g from NC. The FPG (4.75 mmol/L) and HBA1c (44 mmol/L) were reduced in FF-2 than PC. Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL were lower in the FF-1 and FF-2 groups than PC, with the most significant reductions in the FF-2 group. Conversely, HDL was highest in the FF-2 group. The levels of GSH, SOD, and CAT were (p≤0.05) higher in FF-I and FF-2 than in PC. MDA levels were (p≤0.05) reduced in FF-1 and FF-2 than PC, but were higher than NC. All reproductive hormones and ovary histology were found in normal ranges in all groups than PC. The most significant decrease was observed in estrogen (11.06 pg/ml) and testosterone (0.30 ng/ml) levels in FF-2 than PC levels of 16.30 ng/ml and 5.98 ng/ml respectively.

Conclusions: FF-2 Group showed significant improvements by normalizing reproductive hormones, follicle maturation, and reducing inflammation.

Funding Sources: WPSA