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Role of ashwagandha methanolic extract in the regulation of thyroid profile in hypothyroidism modeled rats

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-hypothyroidism potential of ashwagandha methanolic extract (AME). This target was performed through induction of animal model of hypothyroidism by propylthiouracil. After 1 month from treatments, blood samples were collected for biochemical determinations, and liver and kidney were removed for the determination of oxidative stress markers and thyroid gland was removed for histopathological examination. The total phenolic compounds in the extract and the in vitro radical scavenging activity of extract were also determined. The results revealed that the induction of hypothyroidism by propylthiouracil induced a significant increase in serum TSH level but it induced significant decreases in the levels of total T3, free T3, free T4, and total T4 hormones compared with the control values. Also, serum glucose, Il-6, and body weight gain increased significantly while Il-10 and blood hemoglobin levels showed significant decrease. Induction of hypothyroidism increased also the levels of hepatic and renal MDA and NO and decreased significantly the values of GSH, GPx and Na+/ K+-ATPase. Both AME and the anti-hypothyroidism drug significantly ameliorated the changes occurred in the levels of the above parameters and improved histological picture of thyroid gland but with different degrees; where ashwagandha methanolic extract showed the strongest effect. We can conclude that ashwagandha methanolic extract treatment improves thyroid function by ameliorating thyroid hormones and by preventing oxidative stress.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the authorities of the National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt, for providing the facilities and supporting by the fund (Project Code: 11010331) to carry out this work.

Funding

This study was funded by the National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt (Grant Number: 11010331).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Physiology Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt

    Khaled G. Abdel-Wahhab, Hagar H. Mourad & Fathia A. Mannaa

  2. Pathology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt

    Fatma A. Morsy

  3. Dairy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt

    Laila K. Hassan

  4. Natural Compounds Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt

    Rehab F. Taher

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  1. Khaled G. Abdel-Wahhab
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Correspondence to Khaled G. Abdel-Wahhab.

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Khaled G. Abdel-Wahhab has received research a grant from National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Abdel-Wahhab, K.G., Mourad, H.H., Mannaa, F.A. et al. Role of ashwagandha methanolic extract in the regulation of thyroid profile in hypothyroidism modeled rats. Mol Biol Rep 46, 3637–3649 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-019-04721-x

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