Hamid, Norhamidar Ab
(2018)
Effects of royal jelly on biochemical and reproductive parameters in hyperandrogenised female rats.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine abnormality in
women characterised by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic
ovary. Royal jelly (RJ) is traditionally consumed for enhancement of female
reproductive function and fertility. The aims of this study were to analyse the
composition of RJ and to evaluate the effects of RJ on biochemical and reproductive
parameters in hyperandrogenised female rats. Forty immature female rats (three
weeks old, 40-50 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups i.e. Control, Testosterone
(T), T+100RJ (100 mg/kg/day RJ), T+200RJ (200 mg/kg/day RJ) and T+400RJ (400
mg/kg/day RJ) groups. Hyperandrogenic state was induced by giving testosterone
propionate (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for three weeks followed by RJ via oral
gavage daily for four weeks. Vaginal smear was done daily for assessment of oestrus
cycle. At the end of the study, all rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for
reproductive hormones levels and oxidant-antioxidant status assessment. RJ
contained nutrient and phytochemical compounds with beneficial biological activity
including oestrogenic and antioxidant properties. Body weight gain and fasting blood
glucose level showed no significance differences among all groups. The percentage
of regular oestrus cycle was significantly lower in T group compared to control and
T+200RJ groups. T and oestradiol (E2) levels were significantly higher while folliclestimulating
hormone (FSH) was significantly lower in T group compared to control
group. In T+200RJ group, FSH level was significantly higher while luteinizing
hormone (LH), T and E2 levels were significantly lower compared to T group. Thehistological results showed the numbers of primary and cystic follicles were
significantly higher while numbers of secondary follicle and corpora luteum were
significantly lower in T group compared to control group. In addition, the numbers of
primary and cystic follicles were significantly lower and numbers of secondary
follicle and corpora luteum were significantly higher in T+200RJ compared to T,
T+100RJ and T+400RJ groups but not significantly different from control group.
Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were
significantly higher while total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level was significantly
lower in T group compared to control group. However, in T+200RJ group, MDA
level and GPx activity were significantly lower while TAC level was significantly
higher compared to T group. These findings might suggest that RJ at 200 mg/kg/day
for 4 weeks improves reproductive hormone levels, oestrus cycle regularity, ovarian
histology and ovarian oxidant-antioxidant status in hyperandrogenised immature rats
as PCOS rat model. This effect could be attributed partly to the combined effects of
its phytochemical compounds that have oestrogenic and antioxidant properties. In
conclusion, RJ at the dose of 200 mg/kg/day significantly improves biochemical and
reproductive changes in hyperandrogenised female rats which need further study to
evaluate its exact mechanism of action.
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