Dalia Fouad^{1, 2,}, Amani Riyadh¹, Esraa Shuker¹, Mai Elobeid¹, Promy Virk¹

In the study, the pure bromelain and its natural source in pineapple extracts were examined for their protective effects on ovary function in Albino rats exposed to gamma radiation. Female Albino rats (n = 90, prepubertal, 90-140 g each) were equally divided into six experimental groups: G1 was provided with distilled water, G2 exposed to a single dose of gamma radiation (8.3 Gy), G3 was orally administered with 7 mg/kg body weight bromelain for a week, G4 resemble G3 followed by exposure to irradiation, G5 was orally administered 30 mg/kg body weight Ananas comosus for a week, and G6 resembled G5 followed by exposure to irradiation. Rats were sacrificed one-hour, 24h, and 4 days post irradiation and histopathological alterations, granulosa cell viability and oxidative stress biomarkers and apoptosis were evaluated in the ovaries. The irradiated group experienced increased FSH and MDA levels with a reduction in E2 levels and enhanced CAT and SOD expression with marked increase in apoptosis. Treatment with both A. comosus extract and bromelain alleviated the adverse effects induced by the radiation.

pineapple extract, bromelain, oxidative stress, hormonal changes, gamma radiation, ovaries