title: Thuja occidentalis L. and its active compound, α-thujone: Promising effects in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome without inducing osteoporosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thuja occidentalis L. (Cupressaceae) has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, amenorrhea, cystitis, and uterine carcinomas, and as an abortifacient and contraceptive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to determine whether T. occidentalis oil and α-thujone could be beneficial in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  T. occidentalis oil and α-thujone were administered to rats with letrozole-induced PCOS for 21 days. At the end of 21 days, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture. The levels of serum gonadotropins, steroids, blood lipid, leptin, and glucose and the values of antioxidant parameters were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that estradiol and progesterone levels significantly increased, while luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels decreased in the T. occidentalis- and α-thujone-administered groups. The plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), leptin, and glucose concentrations were also significantly decreased in the T. occidentalis and α-thujone groups when compared to the control group. Histopathological findings demonstrated that the T. occidentalis and α-thujone groups displayed good healing. According to the phytochemical analyses, 25 compounds were identified in the T. occidentalis oil. The main constituents of the oil were the monoterpene ketones α- and β-thujone, fenchone, and sabinene, as well as the diterpenes beyerene and rimuene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T. occidentalis essential oil and its active component, α-thujone, can be used for the treatment of PCOS without inducing osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler 06330, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: esrak@gazi.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Küpeli Akkol
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler 06330, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: İlhan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animals Breeding and Experimental Researches Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler 06330, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mürşide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayşe Demirel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, AfyonKocatepe University, 03200 Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hikmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keleş
authors.affiliation: Bartin University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Products Chemistry, 74100 Bartin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tümen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler 06330, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: İpek
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Süntar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D000077289:Letrozole; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009570:Nitriles; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010024:Osteoporosis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D029783:Thuja; D014230:Triazoles
chemical_list: D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D001786:Blood Glucose; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009570:Nitriles; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D014230:Triazoles; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000077289:Letrozole; C005790:beta-thujone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Cupressaceae; Osteoporosis; PCOS; Thuja occidentalis; α-Thujone