Endocrine disruption, infertility, anovulation, impaired cyclicity, and ovarian damage are complications of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Herein, we explore the potential role of Costus speciosus extract in letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in female rats. For PCOS induction, letrozole 1.0 mg/kg body weight was given orally for 90 days. Four groups of female rats were randomly assigned. Group 1, the control, was orally administered distilled water. Group 2 received 300 mg/kg Costus speciosus extract for 28 days. Group 3 is the PCOS model. Group 4 PCOS received 300 mg/kg Costus speciosus extract for 28 days. PCOS phenotypes were evaluated, including testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Body and ovarian weights, estrus cyclicity, follicular cysts, and ovarian histopathology were assessed. Compared to controls, letrozole induced a significant increase in body and ovarian weights. In addition, impaired cyclicity, increased testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, and decreased estradiol were observed. Moreover, ovarian damage was evident by many antral follicular arrests and multiple cystic follicles. Neuroendocrine disruption, reproductive deficiency, and ovarian histopathological alterations were alleviated after 28 days of Costus speciosus treatment. Restoring the estrus cyclicity, significant decreases in LH and testosterone levels with increased estradiol concentration were evident after Costus speciosus treatment. Recovery of arrested and cystic follicles was also obvious after Costus speciosus application. Consequently, we suggest that Costus speciosus could be an alleviating agent in PCOS phenotypes. However, Further research should be conducted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of Costus speciosus or its phytoconstituents per se in the circumstances of PCOS, confirming the present findings.
Elmazoudy et al. (Thu,) studied this question.