Anti-Androgenic Activity of Nardostachys jatamansi DC and Tribulus terrestris L. and Their Beneficial Effects on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Induced Rat Models.
BACKGROUND
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major hyperandrogenic disorder. Many drugs prescribed specifically to treat PCOS have side effects; however, previous studies suggest that natural therapeutics including botanicals may be less invasive and equally effective for the management of PCOS.


METHODS
In the present study, plants were screened for antiandrogenic activity using the RIKILT yeast Androgen bioAssay (RAA). Selected positive plants were subsequently tested for their efficacy against PCOS induced by estradiol valerate (EV) in rat models.


RESULTS
RAA revealed the antiandrogenic property of Nardostachys jatamansi DC (NJ), Tribulus terrestris L. (TT), and Embelia tsjeriam-cottam DC (EJ), whereas Whithania somnifera Dunal (WS), Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (SR), and Helicteres isora L. (HI) exhibited androgenic properties. EJ also exhibited mild androgenic activity and therefore was excluded from further study. EV administration reduced the weight gain and disrupted cyclicity in all rats. NJ and TT extract treatment normalized estrous cyclicity and steroidal hormonal levels and regularized ovarian follicular growth.


CONCLUSIONS
The in vitro antiandrogenic activity of plant extracts and their positive effects on different parameters of PCOS were proved in vivo.
1 Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Kannur University , Kerala, India .
Palakkil Mavilavalappil
PM
Sandeep
2 RIKILT-Institute of Food Safety , Wageningen-UR, Wageningen, the Netherlands .
Toine F H
TF
Bovee
1 Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Kannur University , Kerala, India .
Krishnan
K
Sreejith
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D032404:Nardostachys / Q000737:chemistry; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D032444:Tribulus / Q000737:chemistry; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D015415:Biomarkers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol