title: [Effect of shakuyaku-kanzo-to on serum estrogen levels and adrenal gland cells in ovariectomized rats].
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the traditional herbal medicine, Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To (SKT) on oophorectomized (OVX) rats. In an in vivo experiment, OVX rats were orally given SKT (low dose group: 45 mg/kg b.w./day, high dose group: 450 mg/kg b.w./day) every day for 2 weeks. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and estrone (E1) levels of the low and high dose groups were higher than those of the control given vehicle. Serum 17 beta-estradiol (E2) levels only in the low dose group were higher than those of the control. In an in vitro experiment, adrenal gland cells of OVX rats were incubated with media containing SKT or Shakuyaku(S) or Kanzo(K) for 72-h. DHEA-S production was increased in the SKT 1,000 micrograms/ml and K 500 micrograms/ml group in comparison with the control. At the conclusion of this period, the cells were reincubated for an additional 8-h interval in an androstenedione (delta 4-A, 10(-7) M)-supplemented medium. Aromatase activity assessed by the conversion of delta 4-A to E1 or E2 was not increased in the SKT 1,000 micrograms/ml group. These results indicate that SKT increases DHEA-S, a precursor of estrogen, and brings about an increase in serum estrogen concentrations in OVX rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okamoto
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004967:Estrogens; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D001141:Aromatase