---

Background & objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes dysfunction of the endocrine glands and reproductive disorders. Due to the antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties of curcumin, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of curcumin on serum levels of estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH in diabetic rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 32 female Wistar rats were allocated into four equal groups. Control, non-treated diabetic and diabetic treated with curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg, ip). The diabetes in non-treated diabetic and treated diabetic groups was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. Estrous cycles were identical using sex hormones. Curcumin was intraperitoneally injected to treated diabetic groups for 25 days. DMSO was injected to the animals of control and non-treated diabetic groups as a vehicle. At the end of treatment, the serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis carried out using one way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test.

Results: Administration of curcumin with concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly increased serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone, compared to non-treated diabetic group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results indicate significant effect of curcumin on serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone in diabetic rats. Therefore, curcumin could be effective in improving hormonal disorders in patients with diabetes.

---

Background & objectives: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder, which is characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. Crocin is the main component of saffron. According to antioxidant properties and protective effects of crocin on gonads, this study was done to evaluate the effect of crocin on serum levels of gonadotropin, β-estradiol, testosterone and ovarian follicle in a rat model of polycystic ovarian syndrome
Methods: In this experimental study, 28 Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups. Including: control, non-treated PCOS and two PCOS groups treated with crocin (50 and 100 mg/kg). Polycystic ovarian syndrome was induced by 28 days injection of 1 mg/kg letrozole. Crocin was intraperitoneally administered into treated PCOS groups for 28 days. Saline solution was injected to the animals of control and non-treated PCOS groups. At the end of period treatment, serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone and β-estradiol was measured using ELISA. Then, ovarian tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and histological changes were examined. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Post Hoc Tukey statistical tests (p<0.05).
Results: Serum level of LH, testosterone, β-estradiol and the number of cystic follicles in the PCOS group treated with 100 mg/kg crocin compared to the non-treated PCOS group significantly decreased and FSH, the number of preantral follicles, antral and corpus luteum significantly increased (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Crocin has been effective in improving ovarian cysts and hormonal disorders in rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome.