{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T01:42:57Z","timestamp":1791510177989,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,4]],"date-time":"2018-10-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1538611200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003718","name":"Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["K17292"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["K17292"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003718","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine, metabolic, and systemic disease. It is mainly characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligomenorrhea, and high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). There is no obvious therapy for PCOS, so patients have received symptomatic therapy. Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) is well-known in Asian countries for its usage in food ingredients and traditional medicines. It is also studied for its many effects. These include activation of immune responses, antihypertensive effects, and antioxidant effects. Using letrozole-induced PCOS rats, we focused on herbal therapy using extract of Allium fistulosum (AF; A. fistulosum) roots to improve ovarian functions. As a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole blocks conversion of testosterone to estrogen and subsequently induces PCOS phenomenon. We divided six-week-old female rats into four groups, including control, letrozole, letrozole + AF extract, and temporary letrozole groups. In our study, treatment with AF extract shows a low plasma LH\/FSH ratio, and reveals high estrogen levels, ovarian morphology, folliculogenesis-related genes, and aromatase expression under PCOS mimic conditions. We concluded that AF extract administration influenced aromatase production, enhanced the estrogen steroid synthesis, and consequently restored the estrogenic feedback mechanism on the pituitary-ovary system.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu10101430","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,4]],"date-time":"2018-10-04T12:29:57Z","timestamp":1538656197000},"page":"1430","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":72,"title":["Welsh Onion Root (Allium fistulosum) Restores Ovarian Functions from Letrozole Induced-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6034-2358","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Young Ho","family":"Lee","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hyun","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5809-9854","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sang R.","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2090-6822","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sun Woo","family":"Kwon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9640-8841","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eui-Ju","family":"Hong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4248-1482","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hye Won","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1097\/GRF.0b013e31802f351b","article-title":"Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome","volume":"50","author":"Trivax","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin. Obstet. Gynecol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1089\/met.2010.0039","article-title":"Polycystic ovary syndrome in the pediatric population","volume":"8","author":"Bremer","year":"2010","journal-title":"Metab. Syndr. Relat. Disord."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1001\/archpsyc.63.4.375","article-title":"Associations of hormones and menopausal status with depressed mood in women with no history of depression","volume":"63","author":"Freeman","year":"2006","journal-title":"Arch. Gen. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autrev.2014.01.003","article-title":"Autoimmune primary ovarian insufficiency","volume":"13","author":"Silva","year":"2014","journal-title":"Autoimmun. Rev."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"245","article-title":"A clinical research integration special program (CRISP) for young women with primary ovarian insufficiency","volume":"56","author":"Falorni","year":"2014","journal-title":"Panminerva. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.3109\/13697137.2013.870149","article-title":"Elevated LH levels draw a stronger distinction than AMH in premature ovarian insufficiency","volume":"17","author":"Sahmay","year":"2014","journal-title":"Climacteric"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1093\/humupd\/dmi013","article-title":"Androgen excess fetal programming of female reproduction: A developmental aetiology for polycystic ovary syndrome?","volume":"11","author":"Abbott","year":"2005","journal-title":"Hum. Reprod. Update"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"401","DOI":"10.1530\/REP-15-0352","article-title":"Letrozole vs estradiol valerate induced PCOS in rats: Glycemic, oxidative and inflammatory status assessment","volume":"151","author":"Daneasa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Reproduction"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arcmed.2003.10.005","article-title":"Letrozole-induced polycystic ovaries in the rat: A new model for cystic ovarian disease","volume":"35","author":"Kafali","year":"2004","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3146","DOI":"10.1210\/en.2014-1196","article-title":"Characterization of reproductive, metabolic, and endocrine features of polycystic ovary syndrome in female hyperandrogenic mouse models","volume":"155","author":"Caldwell","year":"2014","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1095\/biolreprod.111.097808","article-title":"Rodent models for human polycystic ovary syndrome","volume":"86","author":"Walters","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biol. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sung, Y.Y., Kim, D.S., Kim, S.H., and Kim, H.K. (2018). Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of welsh onion, Allium fistulosum, attenuate high-fat diet-induced obesity. BMC Complement Altern. Med., 18.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-018-2152-6"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1809","DOI":"10.1271\/bbb.130084","article-title":"Activation of immune responses in mice by an oral administration of bunching onion (Allium fistulosum) mucus","volume":"77","author":"Ueda","year":"2013","journal-title":"Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2164","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2012.04.016","article-title":"Anti-influenza, a virus effects of fructan from Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.)","volume":"134","author":"Lee","year":"2012","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1311","DOI":"10.1271\/bbb.69.1311","article-title":"Antioxidative and antihypertensive effects of Welsh onion on rats fed with a high-fat high-sucrose diet","volume":"69","author":"Yamamoto","year":"2005","journal-title":"Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1571","DOI":"10.1016\/S0024-3205(00)00477-X","article-title":"Effects of Welsh onion extracts on human platelet function in vitro","volume":"66","author":"Chen","year":"2000","journal-title":"Life Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mce.2012.10.029","article-title":"Longterm management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)","volume":"373","author":"Bates","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mol. Cell Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhang, J., Li, T., Zhou, L., Tang, L., Xu, L., Wu, T., and Lim, D.C. (2010). Chinese herbal medicine for subfertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev.","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD007535.pub2"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pyun, B.J., Yang, H., Sohn, E., Yu, S.Y., Lee, D., Jung, D.H., Ko, B.S., and Lee, H.W. (2018). Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze regulates androgen production in a letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome model. Molecules, 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules23051173"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mcna.2014.09.003","article-title":"Polycystic ovarian syndrome","volume":"99","author":"Trikudanathan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Med. Clin. N. Am."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pan, M.L., Chen, L.R., Tsao, H.M., and Chen, K.H. (2015). Relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome and subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus: A nationwide population-based study. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0140544"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1007\/s10545-012-9497-7","article-title":"Primary ovarian insufficiency in classic galactosemia: Role of fsh dysfunction and timing of the lesion","volume":"36","author":"Gubbels","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Inherit. Metab. Dis."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(10)60355-8","article-title":"Primary ovarian insufficiency","volume":"376","author":"Devroey","year":"2010","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1097\/GME.0000000000000832","article-title":"Polycystic ovarian syndrome and the risk of subsequent primary ovarian insufficiency: A nationwide population-based study","volume":"24","author":"Pan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Menopause"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3458","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2009-0545","article-title":"Predictors of pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome","volume":"94","author":"Rausch","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2012.04.006","article-title":"Animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome: A focused review of rodent models in relationship to clinical phenotypes and cardiometabolic risk","volume":"98","author":"Shi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kauffman, A.S., Thackray, V.G., Ryan, G.E., Tolson, K.P., Glidewell-Kenney, C.A., Semaan, S.J., Poling, M.C., Iwata, N., Breen, K.M., and Duleba, A.J. (2015). A novel letrozole model recapitulates both the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome in female mice. Biol. Reprod., 93.","DOI":"10.1095\/biolreprod.115.131631"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5600","DOI":"10.1210\/en.2012-1424","article-title":"Chemerin, a novel regulator of follicular steroidogenesis and its potential involvement in polycystic ovarian syndrome","volume":"153","author":"Wang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1002\/bdrb.20106","article-title":"The rodent estrous cycle: Characterization of vaginal cytology and its utility in toxicological studies","volume":"80","author":"Goldman","year":"2007","journal-title":"Birth Defects Res. B Dev. Reprod. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bonnet, A., Cabau, C., Bouchez, O., Sarry, J., Marsaud, N., Foissac, S., Woloszyn, F., Mulsant, P., and Mandon-Pepin, B. (2013). An overview of gene expression dynamics during early ovarian folliculogenesis: Specificity of follicular compartments and bi-directional dialog. BMC Genom., 14.","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2164-14-904"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.4103\/0975-9476.74090","article-title":"Effect of Aloe barbadensis Mill. formulation on Letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat model","volume":"1","author":"Maharjan","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Ayurveda Integr. Med."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/10\/10\/1430\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T15:23:58Z","timestamp":1760196238000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/10\/10\/1430"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,4]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,10]]}},"alternative-id":["nu10101430"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu10101430","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,4]]}}}