Effects of Trifolium pratense and Cimicifuga racemosa on the endometrium of Wistar rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Trifolium pratense and Cimicifuga racemosa upon the endometrium of castrated female Wistar rats, comparing these results with a placebo and estradiol valerate.


METHODS
Thirty-two adult castrated female Wistar rats were divided into four groups (eight rats per group) that receiving either tap water, estradiol valerate, isoflavones from T. pratense or deoxyactein from C. racemosa daily. The doses used were equivalent to normal doses used in humans. The results were analyzed by endometrial histology and the expression of alpha-estrogen receptor and protein Ki67. Both alpha-receptor and Ki67 expressions were determined by immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis.


RESULTS
Endometrium histology stayed atrophic with both herbal extracts, but T. pratense supplementation increased the expression of alpha-estrogen receptors when compared to the placebo group, without protein Ki67 expression enhancement. Both herbal extracts presented a lower Ki67 expression when compared to the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
T. pratense presented alpha-estrogen receptor stimulation in the endometrium without increasing cell proliferation. Both herbal extracts reduced endometrial proliferation in comparison to the placebo group.
Alves
Décio Luis
DL
Obstetrics and Ginecology Department of the Santa Casa de São Paulo, Faculty of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil. decioalves@terra.com.br
Lima
Sônia Maria Rolim Rosa
SM
da Silva
Célia Regina
CR
Galvão
Maria Antonieta Longo
MA
Shanaider
Alberto
A
de Almeida Prado
Roberto Adelino
RA
Aoki
Tsutomu
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D031885:Cimicifuga; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000032:analysis; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects; D029921:Trifolium
D007529:Isoflavones; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen