The methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa downregulates the relative expression of Kiss۱ gene in the hypothalamus of Wistar rats: A preliminary report

Objective: Kiss۱ gene expression in the rat hypothalamus was investigated following administration of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (MEHS) to provide mechanistic evidence for the reproductive effect of the MEHS as a potential regulator of Kiss۱ gene (which directly controls the hypogonadal axis).Materials and Methods: This experiment was done using fifteen (۱۵) male rats with average weight of ۱۴۸ g, randomly grouped into three (۳) groups (A-C). Group A was the control group and received no treatment. Group B and C were orally administered with ۲۰۰ mg/kg and ۴۰۰ mg/kg of MEHS, respectively. The animals received the extract once a day for twenty-one (۲۱) days. The hypothalamus was harvested on the last day of administration to investigate antioxidant levels, histopathology, and Kiss۱ gene expression.Results: The relative expression of Kiss۱ gene in the group C was downregulated compared to the control group (p=۰.۰۲۳). No significant changes were seen in the antioxidant levels of the groups treated with MEHS when compared to the control. MEHS had no histopathological effects in the hypothalamus at both low (۲۰۰ mg/kg) and high (۴۰۰ mg/kg) doses.Conclusions: High-dose MEHS lowers the expression of the Kiss۱ gene in the hypothalamus. However, this effect could not be explained by the oxidative profile or histology of the hypothalamus.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antioxidants ، Gene expression ، Hibiscus sabdariffa ، Histology ، Hypothalamus ، Phytochemistry