Abstract

Purpose: The effect of water-alcohol Papaver bracteatum Lindl. extract on development of mice oocytes treated with Doxorubicin (dox) was examined in this study. Methods: The mice were classified into four groups. Control group, mice injected intraperitoneally (IP) with saline. Extract group alone, mice treated with 200 mg/kg of body weight (bw), IP, twelve consecutive days. Dox group alone, mice were given dox, IP, 10 mg/kg bw. Experimental group treated with extract and dox together. Effect of the extract on the development of mice oocytes treated with dox were evaluated through assisted reproductive technology techniques (ARTs). Results: Developmental rate and blastocyst formation was improved by using the extract. A significant increase in in vitro developmental competence in comparison with dox group (P < 0.05) was observed. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that P. bracteatum Lindl. extract could prevent dox toxicity of dox affecting both follicle or oocytes, and therefore it can result in improved embryo development which was observed in mice treated with dox plus P. bracteatum Lindl. compared to mice treated with dox alone.