Morphometric and Histological Changes in Ovary and Mammary Glands of Suckling Rats under Effects of High Doses of Rosemary Oil Extract

Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis is a medicinal plant that has long been used by people all over the world, but many of its constituents may be harmful to the body. This study looks at the effect of R. officinalis oil extract on the ovaries and mammary glands structure of Sprague Dawley female rats. The chemical analysis of the tested essential oil was performed with the help of gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Suckling female rats were given orally R. officinalis oil extract at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight for 21 days, while control rats were given corn oil. Following this, tissue samples were obtained from these organs in order to study histomorphometric and histological changes. The number of primaries, secondary, graffian, and atretic follicles, as well as corpora lutea, were then determined. When compared to the control group, all doses of rosemary oil significantly reduced the number of graffian follicles and corpora lutea in the ovary. Furthermore, the number of atretic follicles significantly increased. Different doses of rosemary oil extract were used appeared congestion, collagen fiber deposition, ovarian atrophy, vascular degeneration, coagulative necrosis, oedema, degenerated lactating alveoli, and fatty replacement phenomenon in the ovary and mammary gland tissue. The current study demonstrates that rosemary oil effects on the ovary and mammary glands of female rat can cause significant structural changes, these changes increased with increasing doses of rosemary oil, this can have an impact on the reproductive function and fertility of exposed animals, as a result, the use of rosemary oil in pediatrics and pregnant or suckling women should be approached with caution due to the toxicity.