Histological Study of Commiphora mukul, Withania somnifera and Thyroxine in a Murine Model of Hypothyroidism

Abstract

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder not only in developing countries like Pakistan but also in the developed countries having a prevalence of about 4-5%. Thyroxine remains the gold standard treatment for hypothyroidism but due to its adverse effects, newer and safer phyto alternatives are the need of hour.

Aims & Objectives: Present study was designed to establish effects of Commiphora mukul, and Withania somnifera on thyroid histology in methimazole induced hypothyroidism in order to compare the effects of these plants on thyroid histology with thyroxine.

Place and duration of study: This experimental study was carried out in the animal house of PGMI, Lahore. Total duration of study was 38 days.

Material & Methods: 60 rats were sorted in 6 groups with 10 animals each. G-1 was the control group. G-2 received methimazole 60mg/kg/day for 21 days to induce hypothyroidism and left untreated for self recovery & G3-6 were induced with methimazole in the same way. After induction G3-6 were treated for 15 days except group 2, G-3: Commiphora mukul Ethanolic Extract (CMEE) 0.2g/kg/day orally, G4: Withania somnifera Ethanolic Extract (WSEE) 1.4g/kg/day orally. G-5: CMEE 0.2g/kg/day + WSEE 1.4g/kg/day orally. G-6 received the gold standard Thyroxin 0.6ug/100gm BW S/C. Thyroid was excised for histology at the end i.e at day 38.

Results: Improved thyroid follicular morphology was seen in all treatment groups in their epithelium, colloid content, reversion of chromatin to normal and decreased nuclear pyknosis. However both extract CMEE & WSEE in combination exhibited equi to greater potential than thyroxine 0.6?g/100gm BW alone.

Conclusion: So our study shows that treatment with combination of CMEE 0.2g/kg + WSEE 1.4g/kg orally for 15 days improved thyroid histology significantly which is comparable to gold standard thyroxine proving the potential of this combination to substitute thyroxine.