title: High-content screening and mechanism-based evaluation of estrogenic botanical extracts.
abstract: Symptoms associated with menopause can greatly affect the quality of life for women. Botanical dietary supplements have been viewed by the public as safe and effective despite a lack of evidence indicating a urgent necessity to standardize these supplements chemically and biologically. Seventeen plants were evaluated for estrogenic biological activity using standard assays: competitive estrogen receptor (ER) binding assay for both alpha and beta subtypes, transient transfection of the estrogen response element luciferase plasmid into MCF-7 cells expressing either ER alpha or ER beta, and the Ishikawa alkaline phosphatase induction assay for both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities. Based on the combination of data pooled from these assays, the following was determined: a) a high rate of false positive activity for the competitive binding assays, b) some extracts had estrogenic activity despite a lack of ability to bind the ER, c) one extract exhibited selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) activity, and d) several extracts show additive/synergistic activity. Taken together, these data indicate a need to reprioritize the order in which the bioassays are performed for maximal efficiency of programs involving bioassay-guided fractionation. In addition, possible explanations for the conflicts in the literature over the estrogenicity of Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) are suggested.
authors.affiliation: UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Cassia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Overk
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Shaonong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shixing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ayano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Main
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schinkovitz
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Farnsworth
authors.forename: Guido F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.forename: Judy L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bolton
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004958:Estradiol; D008156:Luciferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase