Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Oogenesis is a process of sexual reproduction in many animals. Some medicinal plants are effective in the process of evalution and pregnancy and some others cause disorders. The Juniperus Sabina is a species of Juniperus which is used in traditional medicine as an abortive. Therefore, we decided to examine the effect of the essence of Juniperus Sabina’s fruit on the possible effect of the etanolic extracts of Juniperus sabina on oogenesis in matured female NMRI mouse strain.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30matured female NMRI mice which weighed 30 to 35 grams were divided into 5 groups. The groups included control group, sham group, and the three experimental groups named as one, two, and three. The control group used the special water and food for mice which was fed to all the groups. The sham group was tested by water and tween solvent. The 1, 2, and 3 experimental groups received 15, 45, and 135 mg/kg of their body weight doses of the essence of Juniperus sabina, respectively for a period of 30 days. At the end of the gavej period, small layers of mice ovary were prepared and the numbers and diagonals of its follicles were measured. One-way ANOVA and Dunnett multiple comparison test were used for data analysis.

Results: The numbers of atretic follicles increased significantly in doses of 45 and 135 mg/kg in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). Also a significant increase was found in the number of the yellow-bodies (corpus luteum) in doses of 15, 45,and 135 mg/kg compared to the control group (p < 0.05).The number of graafian follicles decreased significantly in 15, 45,and 135 mg/kg doses compared to the control group (p< 0.05). The primordial follicles were not observed in any of the experimental groups.

Conclusion: It seems that the consumption of high doses of Juniperuse sabina by women leads to some changes in the size and number of the ovary follicles so it should be used with more caution.

Key words: Juniperus sabina extract, Oogenesis, NMRI mouse

Funding: This research was funded by Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, approved the study.

.How to cite this article: Mortazavi Gazar S, Tafvizi F, Hayati Roodbari N, Yaghmaee P. Effects of Alcoholic Extracts of Maymarz (Juniperuse sabina) on Oogenesis in Matured NMRI Mouse Strain S. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2017; 16(3): 203-16. [Farsi]