Investigation of the Effects of Crataegus Monogyna on Methotrexate-Induced Ovarian Damage

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 135 - 141, 08.08.2025

Emine Sarman

Abstract

Purpose: Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist, is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. Despite its therapeutic benefits, MTX has been associated with toxicity in several organs, especially those of the genital system. Crataegus monogyna (CM) is a flavonoid-rich plant commonly found in many regions and known for its antioxidant and protective properties. Although MTX-induced ovarian damage has been previously studied, no research has investigated the potential protective effect of CM on this damage. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of CM on MTX-induced ovarian injury in rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty female rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6): Control: Received only water and food ad libitum for 14 days. Sham: Given a single dose of physiological saline on day 1 and distilled water by gavage for 14 days. MTX: Received a single intraperitoneal dose of 20 mg/kg MTX on day 1. MTX+CM: Treated with 200 mg/kg CM via gavage one hour before MTX administration and continued CM for 14 days. CM: Received 200 mg/kg CM via gavage for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Ovarian tissues were collected, fixed in 10% formalin, processed, and examined histologically.

Results: In the MTX group, vascular congestion and hemorrhage, atrophic ovarian follicles, collagen accumulation, and mononuclear cell infiltration were observed. These pathological findings were significantly reduced in the MTX+CM treatment group.

Conclusion: It was observed that CM showed a protective effect against MTX-induced ovarian damage.

Keywords

crataegus monogyna, methotrexate, ovary, rat

Metotreksat Kaynaklı Ovaryum Hasarında Crataegus Monogyna Etkisinin Araştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Folik asit antagonisti olan Metotreksat (MTX), çeşitli hastalıkların tedavisinde yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Terapötik faydalarına rağmen, MTX’in özellikle genital sistemle ilişkili organlar başta olmak üzere birçok organda toksisiteye yol açtığı bilinmektedir. Crataegus monogyna (CM) birçok bölgede yaygın olarak bulunan ve flavonoid içeriği yüksek olan bir bitkidir; antioksidan ve koruyucu özellikleriyle tanınır. MTX’in ovaryum üzerinde oluşturduğu hasar daha önce çalışılmış olsa da CM’nin bu hasara karşı olası koruyucu etkisiyle ilgili herhangi bir araştırmaya rastlanmamıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, CM’nin MTX kaynaklı ovaryum hasarı üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmektir.

Araçlar ve Yöntem: 30 adet dişi rat her grupta 6 hayvan olacak şekilde rastgele 5 gruba ayrılmıştır: Kontrol: 14 gün boyunca ad libitum su ve yemle beslenen ratlardan oluşan grup. Sham: 1.gün tek doz serum fizyolojik (SF) ve 14 gün gavajla distile su verilen ratlardan oluşan grup. MTX: 1.gün tek doz 20 mg/kg MTX uygulanan grup. MTX+CM Grubu: Tek doz MTX uygulamadan 1 saat önce ve 14 gün boyunca gavajla 200 mg/kg CM verilen ratlardan oluşan grup. CM: 14 gün boyunca gavajla 200 mg/kg CM verilen ratlardan oluşan grup. Deney sonunda tüm hayvanlar anestezi altında sakrifiye edilmiştir. Ovaryum dokuları alınarak %10’luk formalin içinde tespit edilmiş, histolojik inceleme için rutin doku takip işlemlerinden geçirilmiştir.

Bulgular: MTX grubunda vasküler konjesyon ve hemoraji, atrofik ovaryan foliküller, kolajenöz madde birikimi, mononükleer hücre infiltrasyonu görülmüştür. Tedavi grubu olan MTX+CM grubunda ise bu bulgular önemli derecede azalmıştır.

Sonuç: MTX kaynaklı ovaryum hasarına karşı CM’nin koruyucu bir etki gösterdiği görülmüştür.

Keywords

crataegus monogyna, metotreksat, ovaryum, rat

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