[Experimental study of estrogenic activities of five kinds of Chinese herbal medicines].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the estrogenic activity of several kinds of Chinese herbal medicines.


METHODS
Use zoopery and reporter gene technique to study the estrogenic activity of five Chinese herbal medicines. Zoopery: weanling female Kunming mice weight 9-12 g were administrated botanical extracts of Selaginella tamariscina, Pinus Massoniana, Corallodiscus flabellate, Dryopteris sublaeta and Leonurus heterophyllus, the positive control group with Nilestriol tablets and control group with water, respectiely. On the eighth day, the animals were sacrificed and the uteri were separated solely and weighed. Reporter gene technique: Induce the expression of reporter gene controlled by ERE and measure the activity of luciferase on cell's clear supernatant.


RESULTS
The botanical extracts of S. tamariscina can increase weights of mice (P < 0.01); In the expression of reporter gene controlled by ERE, Either ERalpha or ERbeta's has estrogenic activity (P < 0.01). Follow in the zoopery we find the water part and the n-butanol part of S. tamariscina are the two active parts.


CONCLUSIONS
S. tamariscina and it's water part and n-butanol part have estrogenic activities, effect on ERbeta is greater than ERalpha.
Zheng
Xiao-ke
XK
Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou. zhengxk@hactcm.edu.cn
Lv
Peng-fei
PF
Wang
Ling-qiao
LQ
Feng
Wei-Sheng
WS
Wang
Ji-feng
JF
Niu
Jian-zhao
JZ
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D031332:Leonurus / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D032503:Selaginellaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D048789:Phytoestrogens