EFFECTIVENESS OF ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS L. ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS, THYROID FUNCTION AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Abstract

Context: Anethum graveolens L. is used in the treatment of numerous diseases. But there is limited data about the Anethum graveolens efficiency in thyroid tissue.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the functional and histopathological changes in thyroid tissues from rats treated with Anethum graveolens L. extract.

Design: This is an experimental animal study and duration of the study was 30 days.

Subjects and methods: Twenty-eight female Wistar Albino rats were divided into four equal groups. A gavage of Anethum graveolens L. extract at 0, 50, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day doses were given to the rats with 1 mL 0.9% NaCl, respectively, for 30 days. Blood was taken at day 0, 15 and 30. fT3, fT4, TSH values and antioxidant efficiency were observed. Also the thyroidectomy tissue was assessed histopathologically.

Results: There is no difference observed in the fT3, fT4 and TSH values of groups 1, 2 and 3 at day 1, 15 and 30 (p>0.05); however, in group 4, TSH value decreased on days 15 and 30 when compared to day 1 and the other groups (p<0.05). Also the hypertrophy and thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia were significantly increased in group 4 (p<0.05). There is no difference in antioxidant efficiency in any of the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Anethum graveolens L. extract is effective on both the function and the histology of thyroid tissue but it has no effect on antioxidant status.