Background and purpose: Herbal medicine have always been used in Iran and other countries around the world. They have different effects on human body, some are beneficial and others could be detrimental. There are few studies that investigated the effect of turmeric (Curcuma Longa) on female reproduction. This study examined the effect of turmeric extract on in vitro maturation of mice’s primordial oocytes and on the number of embryos resulting from fertilization.
Materials and methods: The NRMI mice were divided into four groups: experimental group 1 and 2, sham, and control. The control group received normal food and water for 7 days; the sham group was daily gavaged with 0.002 mg/kg body weight of distilled water and alcohol for 7 days. The experimental groups 1 and 2 received 0.001 and 0.002 mg/kg body weight of turmeric extract daily, respectively. After 7 days, the mice were sacrificed and anatomized. The results were then analyzed at the end of the IVF and IVM procedures.
Results: The findings suggest that increase in concentration of turmeric significantly limits the level of maturation in somatic embryos. Moreover, the number of two and four-cell embryos within 24 and 48 hours after fertilization decreased in higher concentration of turmeric extract.
Conclusion: The extract of the turmeric plant could limit the maturation of primordial oocytes and reduce the number of resulting embryos. Therefore, caution should be accounted for its use.