The Effect of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Pumpkin Seeds on Estrogen Levels and Kidney Markers in Adult Female Rats

Background: Pumpkin seeds are rich in phytoestrogens (estrogen precursors) and can be good alternatives to synthetic estrogen therapy, without exerting destructive effects on renal and ovarian tissues. Objectives: In the present study, the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of pumpkin seeds on estrogen levels was assessed in adult female rats and its effects on serum and tissue markers of kidney and ovaries. Methods: In this experimental study, 32 adult Wistar female rats (at 60 days of age and weighing10180 g) were randomly divided into four groups of 8: three experimental groups and one control group. The three experimental groups received a hydro-alcoholic extract of pumpkin seed via intraperitoneal injection for 21 consecutive days (doses of 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively). One day after the last injection, blood samples were taken from the rats to test serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine, uric acid (UA), estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Moreover, their kidneys and ovaries were removed for histological studies. Results: The results showed significant increases in serum levels of FSH and LH and in the number of graph follicles in the experimental group 3, in addition to significant reduction in the number of primitive and primary follicles in the three experimental groups as compared with those in the control group, in the number of secondary follicles in the experimental group 1 compared with that in the experimental groups 2 and 3, and also in renal cortical thickness, Bowman’s capsule thickness and glomerulus diameter in the experimental groups 1 and 2 compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclousions: It can be concluded that the estrogen found in the hydro-alcoholic extract of pumpkin seeds can play a prominent role in ovulation with the least destructive effect on renal tissue. Hence, it may be a suitable alternative to synthetic estrogen and menstrual cycle regulators.