Role of Seed Therapy on Estrous and Non-Estrous Cycle in Healthy Female Rats

Seed cycling therapy (SCT) involves the consumption of specific seeds during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle to help balance reproductive hormones. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SCT on healthy female Wistar albino rats to prevent hormonal imbalances. For SCT, a seed mixture (SM1) consisting of flax, pumpkin, and soybeans (estrogenic seeds) was administered at doses of 5.4, 4, 8, and 12 g per 100 g of diet during the non-estrous phase. Another seed mixture (SM2) comprising sunflower, sesame, and chickpeas (also estrogenic) was given at doses of 3.12, 8, and 8 g per 100 g during the estrous phase. A total of 36 female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, each containing nine rats: Basal diet, seed cycling 1, seed cycling 2, and seed cycling 3 (SC₃). All diets were isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous. The results showed that body weight, feed intake, and water consumption were significantly decreased in the SC₃ group (p < 0.05), with increased nutrient digestibility. The tested diets led to significant positive changes in levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, high-density lipoproteins (HDL-c), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-c), LDL-c/HDL-c ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase across both phases of the cycle. There was also a notable increase in estrogen, testosterone, prolactin, and insulin levels (p < 0.05). Ovarian histology results showed normal morphology in the SC₃ group, suggesting that this dosage was the most effective. The findings indicate that further studies are warranted to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying phytoestrogen action during reproductive stages.