Exploring the Ameliorative Effects of Hypericum Scabrum L. on a Surgically-Induced Endometriosis Rat Model and Its Phytochemical Lc-ms/Ms- Profile

Abstract

Endometriosis is described as the existence and expansion of functional endometrial-like tissues in another part of the uterine cavity. It affects not only postmenopausal women but also teenagers after menarche, causing subfertility, dysmenorrhea and severe pelvic pain. Since no specific treatment is acknowledged for this disease, the present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of H. scabrum in a surgically-induced endometriosis rat model. In order to test the efficacy of H. scabrum on endometriosis, n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and aqueous extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of H. scabrum. The cytokine levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and histopathological analyses were evaluated. In order to reveal the potential active compounds, liquid chromatography-mass/mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) analysis was performed on the MeOH extract who presentedthe highest activity. The MeOH extract significantly decreased the adhesion scores, endometriotic implant volumes, cytokine levels and the antioxidant parameters. Furthermore, histological procedures supported those findings. According to LC-MS/MS analysis of the MeOH extract, the major compounds were mostly phenolic acids and flavonoids. We concluded that the MeOH extract from H. scabrum aerial parts could be used for the treatment of endometriosis, and its activity could be attributed to the chlorogenic acid and quercetin, detected in the highest amounts.