title: Effect of a derived herbal recipe from an ancient Chinese formula, Danggui Buxue Tang, on ovariectomized rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radix Astragali (root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, RA), Radix Angelicae sinensis (root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, RAS) and Folium Epimedii (leaves of Epimedium brevicomum Maxim., FE) are three of the extensively applied herbal remedies among traditional Chinese medicines for gynecological disorders and osteoporosis. A derivative herbal recipe-RRF, composed of the three medicines with a weight ratio of 5:1:5, is derived from a famous Chinese herbal formula-Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT). RRF has shown noteworthy protective effect in ovariectomized rats, which might represent a promising candidate for the treatment of perimenopausal disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the herbal recipe RRF for its efficacy on perimenopausal disorders and the underlying mechanisms via ovariectomy (OVX) models.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental model of OVX female rats was applied. Vehicle (Sham and OVX group), RRF (564, 282 and 141 mg/kg/d) and conjugated equine estrogens (CEE, 0.1mg/kg/d, reference drug) were all administrated orally once daily for 16 weeks post operation. After the treatment, radioimmunoassay for estradiol (E(2)), lutenizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and β-endorphin (β--EP), neurotransmitter determination by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector (HPLC-ECD) for norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid), bone mineral density (BMD) assay as well as lipid peroxidation assessment, were carried out to probe into the effectiveness of RRF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) RRF treatment enhanced E(2) synthese while diminished the elevated serum FSH and LH levels; in terms of neurotransmitter, β-EP syntheses rallied whereas the hypothalamic NE, DA and 5-HT release experienced varying mitigation in OVX female rats. (2) Repeated administration of RRF was able to attenuate osteoporosis by elevating the BMD levels of total body, and arrest the bone trabeculae degradation. (3) RRF exposure decreased serum levels of constituent MDA and increased endogenous SOD activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the current studies revealed that RRF was capable of acting at multiple targets which presumably underlay its potential protective effect in OVX rats mimicking symptoms as observed in perimenopausal women. Hence, RRF might represent a promising candidate in the treatment of perimenopausal disorders in midlife women.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 WaiHuan East Road, Guangzhou University Town, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Qing-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jian-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Tina T X
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ji-Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Da-Ke
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liang-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Cui
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Karl W K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
authors.forename: Zi-Ren
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020011:Protective Agents; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; D012701:Serotonin; D004958:Estradiol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine