Extra Virgin Olive Oil Mitigated Uterine Dysfunctions in Female Wistar Rats Exposed to Benzene and Ethanol

Abstract

Background: Exposure to benzene and ethanol is known to predispose to ovarian and uterine retardation, Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is an essential oil that is well-reputed for its outstanding nutraceutical and therapeutic properties. The present study is aimed at elucidating the pharmacological potentials of EVOO supplementation on ethanol/benzene-induced female reproductive dysfunctions in rats. Methodology: Forty-eight (48) adult Wistar rats weighing (110kg-130kg) were divided into 8 groups (n = 6). CTR= Control, EVOO= Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ETH= Ethanol, BEN= Benzene, ETH+BEN= Ethanol + Benzene, ETH+EVOO= Ethanol+ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, BEN+EVOO= Benzene+ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ETH+BEN+EVOO= Ethanol+Benzene + Extra Virgin Olive Oil. They were administered Ethanol, Benzene and Extra Virgin Olive Oil according to the grouped tagging. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed while tissues were harvested, and processed for H & E stain and Masson Trichrome stain histopathological assessment. Progesterone and estradiol were measured using standard methods. Statistical analysis was done using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) on GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. Significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Interestingly, EVOO supplementation significantly (p<0.05) increased body weight, estradiol, and progesterone levels, while also mitigating ovarian and uterine histoarchitectural integrity. Conclusion: EVOO may be considered when formulating a dietary regimen in the management of female reproductive dysfunctions associated with benzene and ethanol.