Ameliorative effects of apigenin on a rat model of endometriosis

Year 2023, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 178 - 185, 04.03.2023

Gulam Hekimoğlu , Sümeyye Koç , Ali İmran Daştan , Kübra Şevgin , Muhammetnur Tekayev , Eray Metin Güler , Neslihan Sayir , Halime Tuba Canbaz , Fatih Hacımustafaoğlu , Halime Hanim Pence , Tansel Sapmaz , Ebru Kale

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1209679

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Objectives: Apigenin and parthenolide as natural products have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory outcomes that could make them a perfect option for endometriosis therapy. This study aimed to determine the effects of apigenin and parthenolide on created endometrial implants in a rat model of endometriosis.

Methods: Thirty-nine mature, female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to six experimental groups four weeks after endometriosis induction. Group 1 (n = 5): Control (CTRL) that opened and closed the abdomen; Group 2 (n = 6): Peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis (POE) + drug-free; Group 3 (n = 7): POE+ Apigenin (APG) (50 mg/kg); Group 4 (n = 7): POE+ Parthenolide (PTL) (10 mg/kg); Group 5 (n = 7): POE+ Apigenin (APG) (50 mg/kg) + Parthenolide (PTL) (10 mg/kg); Group 6 (n = 7): POE+ DMSO. An endometriosis model was created, and histopathological analysis and biochemical evaluation were performed. Serum and peritoneal levels of pro-and-anti-inflammatory cytokine, and oxidative stress of implant tissue were measured.

Results: Serum IL-37 levels decreased significantly in the APG-treated group compared to the drug-free group (p = 0.016). The peritoneum and ovary endometriosis histopathologic scores were significantly lower in APG-treated (p = 0.001) and PTL-treated (p = 0.001) groups in comparison to the drug-free group. The oxidative stress index (OSI) values were increased statistically significantly in ovary endometriosis tissue in the drug-free group, (p = 0.001). However, compared to the drug-free group, OSI values decreased statistically significantly in the APG-treated group (p = 0.003).

Conclusions: The application of apigenin caused a decrease in oxidative stress and an improvement in histopathological grade. Apigenin may be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of endometriosis.

Keywords

Apigenin, parthenolide, oxidative stress, endometriosis, IL-6, IL-37

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Grants Unit, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey

Project Number

Grant Number: 2020/068

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