Impact of Alnagma (dexamethasone) abused by Sudanese women as cosmetic on steroidogenesis in female Wistar rats

Abstract

Alnagma (dexamethasone) is locally abused by Sudanese women as cosmetics for gaining weight and whiten skin. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of Alnagma on steroid hormones, steroidogenesis and thus fertility in Female Wistar Rats. Eighteen female Wistar rats weighing (106.7 ± 6.2 g) were randomly divided into three groups, group I: received high dose dexamethasone (45 μg/kg/day), group II: received low dose (15 μg/kg/day) for one month and group III received placebo as control group, body weight was measured before treatment, day 14 and at day 30, serum estradiol, estrone and testosterone were measured using competitive ELISA technique, and the ovaries were examined using microscopic histopathological assay. Alnagma treated significantly decrease body weight, and increase mean estrone, testosterone and estradiol level (p-value < 0.05) in both low and high dose treated groups. Microscopic analysis showed increase luminal steroid hormones with hyperplasia of theca and granulosa cells. The study concludes that abuse of Alnagma increased testosterone which leads to infertility and estradiol prolonged luteal phase affecting menstrual cycle, while estrone increased susceptibility for breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Keywords: Dexamethasone, Alnagma, steroids, infertility, drugs abuse, Sudan.