BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Dec 2012)

Estrogen-like activity of aqueous extract from <it>Agrimonia pilosa</it> Ledeb. in MCF-7 cells

  • Lee Young Min,
  • Kim Jung Bong,
  • Bae Ji Hyun,
  • Lee Jong Suk,
  • Kim Pan-Soo,
  • Jang Hwan Hee,
  • Kim Haeng Ran

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-260
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 260

Abstract

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Abstract Background Postmenopausal women experience estrogen deficiency-related menopausal symptoms (e.g., hot flashes and mood swings) and a dramatic increase in the incidence of chronic diseases. Although estrogen-replacement therapy (ERT) can reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease and improve osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms, its side effects have limited recent use. This study investigated the estrogen-like activity of aqueous extract from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Methods The estrogenic activity of A. pilosa was investigated by using several in vitro assays. The binding activity of A. pilosa on estrogen receptors was examined using a fluorescence polarization-based competitive binding assay. The proliferative activity of A. pilosa was also examined using MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the effect of A. pilosa on the expression of 3 estrogen-dependent genes was assessed. Results Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the 3 major peaks of A. pilosa aqueous extract were identified as apigenin-hexose, luteolin-glucuronide, and apigenin-glucuronide. The aqueous extract induced the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells (p A. pilosa-stimulated proliferation was blocked on adding the estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780. Moreover, A. pilosa treatment increased the mRNA expression of the estrogen-responsive genes pS2 and PR (p Conclusions These results suggest A. pilosa can be used to improve estrogen deficiency-related menopausal symptoms or to treat diseases in postmenopausal women.

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