Assessment Of Lycium Barbarum L. Fruits' Effect On Premature Ovarian Failure In Rats

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined as the loss of physiological ovarian function before 40 years old in women by the WHO. The effect of Lycium barbarum L. fruits ethanol extracts (Barbary Wolfberry Fruit, BWFE) and its possible mechanisms in treating POF was studied in female Sprague-Dawley rats whose POF was induced by cyclophosphamide. Rat behavior, serum hormone levels, ovarian and uterine size, body weight, pathological features, ovarian tissue expression of Bcl-2/Bax and phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT signal pathway were assessed in controls, untreated POF model rats, and POF model rats feed with low-(200 mg/kg), medium-(400 mg/kg), and high-dose (800 mg/kg) BWFE. Compared with the untreated POF model rats, the rats treated with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg BWFE show more stable behavior and better coat appearance. The serum hormone levels in BWFE treated group were closer to those in control rats. In addition, treatment with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg BWFE increased ovarian and uterine size. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining exhibited mature follicles and endometrium with an alternating concave/convex surface structure with visible capillaries and glands in BWFE-treated POF rats. BWFE also regulated the Bcl-2/Bax expression and PI3K/AKT signaling in POF rats. Our results demonstrated that BWFE may effectively prevent POF and arbitrate POF symptoms by regulating serum hormone levels, altering the expression levels of Bcl-2/Bax, and regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway related to POF in ovarian tissue.