THE EFFECT OF ATRIPLEX HALIMUS L. AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-INDUCED FEMALE HORMONE DISORDERS IN RATS

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most common circulating steroid in the human body and is an essential precursor hormone. Exogenous DHEA, on the other hand, has been shown to cause endocrine disorders in women. Indeed, the use of medicinal plants is of great help in the treatment of female disorders.Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the prophylactic and/or therapeutic effect of the aqueous extract of Atriplexhalimus L. on sex hormone balance.For this purpose, Female rats were subjected for a period of 21 days to a plant extract dose of 5g/kg body weight (BW)/day (D) either before or after receiving a DHEA dose of 60 mg/kg BW/D for 21 days.The results of the present study show that the administration of DHEA leads to a significant decrease in the level of the luteinizing hormone followed by a significant increase in the level follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol and progesterone. While treatment with aqueous extract of A. halimus L. either before or after DHEA exposure was able to regulate these hormones and counteract the adverse effects of DHEA supplementation.