Lata Bisht, Minakshi Barmola, Mamta F Singh and Sonali Kulasari

Abstract

ABSTRACT-Menopause is a natural process in women's reproductive life at the age of 40 to 50 years and leads to deficiency of estrogen causing various complications in women's health. Prunus amygdalusnuts are abundant source of various phytoestrogens and produces effect similar to that of estrogen and can be used in menopausal women in place of HRT. In the present study ovotoxicity and menopause wasinducedinfemaleratsby4-vinylcyclohexane diepoxide (165 mg/kg, i.p. five times a week for 15 days). After induction menopause the animals were treated with the paste of dried seeds of Prunus amygdalusat the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. for 45 days. Blood estrogen level was checked before and after administration of VCD to confirm induction of menopause. After the treatment period of 45 days blood was collected from the animals, centrifuged and serum was separated and used for the estimation of estrogen, cholesterol,triglyceride,HDL,LDLandVLDL. Ovaries were isolated from the treated animals,keptinicecoldtrisbuffer,homogenized and centrifuged. The supernatant was used for the estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase). Results indicate that administration of seeds of Prunus amygdalus at different dose levels do not have anyeffectonserumestrogenlevelbutsignificantlyimprovedlipidprofileanddecreased atherogenic index in postmenopausal rats. Asignificant decrease in the MDAand increase in antioxidant enzymes level was observed in postmenopausal rats after treatment with paste of dried seeds of Prunus amygdalus. Results conclude that administration of seeds of Prunus amygdalus for a long period of time may improve the cardiovascular complications of women's health after menopause.