Document Type : Original Article (s)
Authors
1
PhD Student, Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) and KRGE-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (KRGE-loaded PLGA NPs) on testosterone-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) mice.Methods: Female Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) post-pubertal mice were divided into control (n = 10), sham (n = 10), and PCOS (n = 60) groups. PCOS was induced in sham and PCOS groups by subcutaneous injection of testosterone enanthate 1 mg/100mg/day in the back of the mice neck for 4 weeks; then, the PCOS group was intraperitoneally treated with different concentrations of KRGE and KRGE-loaded PLGA NPs for the consecutive 15 days. The ovarian tissues were surgically removed for determinations of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species, glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis to detect glutathione reductase (GR) and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NRF-2) genes.Findings: Both KRGE and KRGE-loaded PLGA NPs were beneficial to decrease MDA, and oxidative agents as well as increase the level of GSH, TAC, and GST in PCOS mice. According to qRT-PCR analysis, the expressions of NRF-2 and GR genes were elevated in the treated mice. However, statistical analysis revealed that KRGE-loaded PLGA NPs were more effective than KRGE.Conclusion: Our results are consistent with the beneficial effect of KRGE on the treatment of PCOS. Nonetheless, KRGE coated with PLGA NPs were suggested more effective according to our findings.
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