Protective Effect of Hydroethanolic Extract of Lippia citrodora L. Leaf and Vitamin D3 on Estradiol Valerate-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Mice

Background and Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of hydroethanolic extract of Lippia citrodora L. leaf (LCE) and vitamin D3 on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in suri rats.   Methods: This experimental study was performed on 48 female suri rats with a weight range of 25-35g. The subjects were divided into 8 groups (n=6 each), namely control (food + water), case (estradiol valerate, subcutaneously), sham (sesame oil, 0.25 ml, subcutaneously), positive control (metformin + water), intervention 1 (estradiol valerate + low-dose Lippia citrodora L. extract, intraperitoneally), intervention 2 (estradiol valerate + LCE high dose, intraperitoneally), intervention 3 (estradiol valerate + vitamin D3, intraperitoneally), and intervention 4 (estradiol valerate + Lippia citrodora L. extract + vitamin D3). The whole process of performing the experiments took 55 days. To conduct the study, blood and ovary tissue samples were obtained from the subjects. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using the one-way ANOVA method.   Results: Based on the results of the study, estradiol valerate caused PCOS in suri rats. Moreover, a significant decrease of ovarian cysts was observed in the ovarian tissue of the treatment groups, compared to those in the case group. It was also found out the concomitant use of Lippia citrodora L. extract and vitamin D3 was more effective in reducing ovarian cysts.   Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the use of Lippia citrodora L. extract and vitamin D3 had a significant effect on reducing ovarian cysts in suri rats with PCOS.