Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effects of Tribulus Terrestris Extract on Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Polycystic Ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a intricate endocrine disorder which is described by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and metabolic disturbances, often modeled experimentally using letrozole-induced ovarian dysfunction in rodents. The present study evaluated the beneficial potential of T. terrestris extract in comparison with metformin in female rats with Wistar strain with letrozole-induced PCOS. 30 rats were divided into five groups: normal control, letrozole control, low-dose T. terrestris (100 mg/kg), high-dose T. terrestris (200 mg/kg), and Metformin (300 mg/kg). Parameters assessed included food consumption, body weight, estrous cycle, hematology, serum hormone concentrations, organ weights, and ovarian histopathology. Letrozole disrupted increased body weight, Estrous cyclicity altered hematological indices, and induced ovarian cysts. Treatment with T. terrestris extract restored estrous cyclicity, normalized serum gonadotropins and steroid hormones, improved hematological indices, and ameliorated ovarian histopathology, with effects comparable to metformin. The higher T. terrestris dose showed slightly stronger efficacy. These findings suggest that T. terrestris exerts estrogenic and anti-androgenic actions capable of counteracting PCOS-associated metabolic and reproductive disturbances.