Huda F. Hasan ‎

Abstract

This research was done to evaluate the effect of flavonoids isolated from Spinacia oleracea leaves on the pituitary-adrenal ovarian axis in mice treated with doxorubicin. Forty female mice were distributed into four groups; the first group (G1) was given a daily orally dose of Spinacia oleracea leaves extract (100 mg/kg), the second group (G2) was given a daily oral dose of flavonoids (100 mg/kg), the third group (G3) was given distilled water, and the fourth group (G4) was left without any treatment. At the beginning of the first week, G1, G2, and G3 were intra-peritoneally injected with doxorubicin (0.15 mg/kg) twice weekly. G1 and G2 showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) in ACTH, Cortisol, FSH, and LH levels with a significant increase (P<0.05) in the levels of glutathione peroxides, superoxide dismutase, and an enhancement in the fertility index compared to G3. Histopathological section of the ovary in G3 showed degeneration of epithelial cells, ovary section in G2 showed a presence of multiple mature follicles contained oocyte. Ovary in G1 showed the presence of mature follicle. The histopathological section in the adrenal cortex of G3 showed the congestion of blood vessels. The adrenal cortex of G2 showed moderate vacuolization and mononuclear cells infiltration. The adrenal cortex of G1 showed a mild vacuolization. From this study, we concluded that the flavonoids isolated from Spinacia oleracea leaves have the ability to attenuate the side effects of chemotherapy drugs by enhancing antioxidant and improving fertility‎.