Possible effects of radix liquiritaes on female rat reproductive function

In our study, the possible effects of licorice root syrup prepared by traditional methods on the estrous cycle, uterine tissue, and ovaries in female rats were investigated. For this purpose, female Wistar albino rats were divided into two main groups: Control and Licorice groups. Within each group, proestrus/estrus and diestrus/metestrus subgroups were evaluated. The experimental animals were housed in metabolic cages for a 7-day protocol. Group 1 (the control group) was given drinking water, while Group 2 was given licorice root syrup. Later, the experimental animals were killed under anesthesia with cervical dislocation using sevoflurane, and changes in the levels of FSH, LH, estrogen hormones, and ovaries were examined in the presence of licorice root from blood samples. In addition, uterine tissues were isolated and suspended in isolated organ baths containing Krebs solution. The amplitudes of the contraction responses generated spontaneously or with oxytocin in both groups, as well as the area under the curve (AUC), were examined. In the experiments, while no significant difference was found in the estrogen levels of the control group and the rats given licorice root according to the cycles, it was observed that the levels of FSH and LH significantly increased in all cycles. The amplitudes and area under the curve of spontaneous contractions and oxytocin-induced phasic contractions in isolated uterine tissues were significantly reduced in the presence of licorice root. Additionally, when investing the effect of licorice root on oocytes, a significant decrease in the number of corpora lutea was observed in rats undergoing the proestrus/estrus cycle that received licorice root compared to the controls, while the primary follicles and antral follicles significantly increased in the rats undergoing the diestrus/metestrus cycle that received licorice root. The findings traditionally indicate that the sorrel root sherbet prepared may have an enhancing effect on LH and FSH that could be related to ovulation, and may also affect the tone by reducing the amplitude of the uterine tissue contraction responses.