JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, sa.6, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Ovarian torsion causes problems such as infertility in women due to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. alpha-Pinene (AP) is a monoterpene with known anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic impacts. In the present investigation, the protective impact of AP was examined in the ovarian I/R model. 28 Wistar-Albino female rats were used in the study. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-10, MDA, IMA, SOD, and SIRT-1 levels were determined in ovarian tissue by ELISA method. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted to determine Bcl-2, Caspase-3, LC3B, and NF kappa B levels in ovarian tissues. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IMA, and MDA levels were reduced in the treatment groups than the I/R group dose-dependent, while IL-10, SOD, and SIRT-1 levels increased substantially. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity declined in the treatment groups while Bcl-2 levels increased. LC3B and NF kappa B levels, which rise with I/R injury, were reduced considerably in the treatment groups. In addition, hemorrhage, edema, vascular congestion, and follicular degeneration due to I/R injury decreased in the treatment groups. The present investigation shows that AP has anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and autophagy inhibitory effects against I/R damage in ovarian tissues and reduces oxidative stress. The results indicate that AP may be a potential protective agent in clinical use. Further research is needed before AP can be used in the clinic.