Estrogenic Effects of the Herbal Formula, Menoprogen, in Ovariectomized Rats

DOI Web Site Web Site 2 Citations 13 References
  • Ma Hong
    College of Basic Medicine, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Division of Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
  • Chung Mi Hwa
    College of Basic Medicine, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Division of Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
  • Lu Ye
    Jiangsu Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Nishihara Tsutomu
    Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hyogo University of Health Sciences
  • Hattori Masao
    Division of Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama

Search this article

Abstract

Despite the health risks for postmenopausal women, the indications and ideal candidates for hormone replacement therapy remain unclear. The present study used ovariectomized rats to examine the safety and effects of the Chinese herbal formula Menoprogen (MPG), which is prescribed for menopausal syndrome. Daily oral MPG (1000 mg/kg body weight) for 2 weeks significantly recovered uterine and adrenal gland atrophy and restored serum estradiol, estrone and progesterone levels that were decreased in rats by bilateral ovariectomy. However, yeast two-hybrid and nuclear receptor cofactor assays showed that MPG did not bind estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β, and immunohistochemical staining revealed that unlike 17β-estradiol, MPG did not stimulate the protein expression of ERα, progesterone receptor, c-jun and c-fos in the uterus. No side effects of MPG were confirmed in vivo. These findings suggest that MPG would be useful for treating women with premenopausal and postmenopausal syndromes.

Journal

Citations (2)*help

See more

References(13)*help

See more

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top