Effect on prolactin secretion of Echinacea purpurea, hypericum perforatum and Eleutherococcus senticosus.
It has been recently reported that prolactin (PRL) plays an important role in immune system regulation. In this study we investigated the activity of three natural drugs with immunomodulatory activity: Echinacea purpurea (EP), Hypericum perforatum (HP) and Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) on PRL production. Male rats were orally treated with two different doses (30 and 100 mg/kg) of extract of these drugs for 3 or 15 days. A 3-day treatment was not able to modify PRL serum levels, whereas a 15-day treatment with EP and HP at the higher dose significantly inhibits PRL production. A treatment with ES was always ineffective. A possible mechanism for this effect could be that both HP and EP extracts display a direct dopaminergic activity, although an involvement of the GABA-ergic system cannot be excluded.
Di Carlo
G
G
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. dicarlo@unina.it
Pacilio
M
M
Capasso
R
R
Di Carlo
R
R
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020900:Echinacea; D028001:Eleutherococcus; D020902:Hypericum; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011388:Prolactin