title: Evaluation of estrogenic potential of Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue Decoction by dual-luciferase reporter based bioluminescent measurements in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue Decoction (SGLXD), a cipher prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to ameliorate hot flushes symptom in breast cancer patients for several decades. However, estrogenic activity of SGLXD is remaining unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the estrogenic potential of SGLXD and each of the component herbs; to investigate the effect of SGLXD on cell viability of MCF-7 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the estrogenic potential of SGLXD and each of the component herbs with dual-luciferase reporter assay and bioluminescent measurements, by using transient cotransfection with estrogen dependent plasmid pERE-TK-Luc and internal control plasmid pRL-TK in MCF-7 cells. We investigated the effect of SGLXD on cell viability of MCF-7 by MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SGLXD and each of the component herbs did not demonstrate estrogenic activity compared to negative control, even at high concentration (p > 0.05). By MTT assay, different concentrations of SGLXD significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells dose-dependently (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SGLXD and single herbs do not manifest estrogenic activity, while SGLXD has weak inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cell viability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking University School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing 100191, PR China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ping-Ping
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010957:Plasmids; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004967:Estrogens; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C000629000:shugan liangxue; D008156:Luciferases