Chinese herb mix Tiao-Geng-Tang possesses antiaging and antioxidative effects and upregulates expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in ovariectomized rats
Herb mixtures are widely used as an alternative to hormonal therapy in China for treatment of the menopausal syndrome. However, composition of these herb mixtures are complex and their working mechanism is often unknown.
This study investigated the effect of Tiao-Geng-Tang (TG-decoction), a Chinese herbal mixture extract, in balancing female hormones, regulating expression of estrogen receptors (ERs), and preventing aging-related tissue damage.
Methods:
Ovariectomized 5-month-old female rats were used to model menopause and treated with either TG-decoction or conjugated estrogen for 8 weeks. Estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in serum and in the hypothalamus.
Hypothalamic expression of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta were studied by real-time PCR and western blotting. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), oxidation indicator superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and tissue damage parameter malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using standard assays.
Aging-related ultrastructural alterations in mitochondria were studied in all animals by transmission electron microscopy.
Results:
TG-decoction-treatment elevated E2 and lowered FSH in serum of ovariectomized rats. The potency and efficacy of TG-decoction on the hypothalamus was generally weaker than that of conjugated estrogens.
However, TG-decoction was superior in upregulating expression of ER alpha and beta. TG-decoction increased hypothalamic SOD and T-AOC levels and decreased MDA levels and mitochondrial damage in hypothalamic neurons.
Conclusions:
TG-decoction balances female hormones similarly to conjugated estrogens but less effectively.
However, it is superior in upregulating ERalpha and beta and exhibits antioxidative and antiaging activities. Whilst it shares similar effects with estrogen, TG-decoction also seems to have distinctive and more complex functions and activities.
Author: Lian-wei XuLan KluweTing-ting ZhangSheng-nan LiYan-yan MouZhen SangJun MaXiong LuZhuo-jun Sun
Credits/Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011, 11:137
Published on: 2011-12-30
Copyright by the authors listed above - made available via BioMedCentral (Open Access). Please
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