Effects of Pueraria mirifica and miroestrol on the antioxidation-related enzymes in ovariectomized mice.
OBJECTIVE
The influences of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica (PM), a Thai medicinal plant with long tradition of medicinal consumption among menopausal women for rejuvenation and estrogen hormone replacement, on oxidative status in ovariectomized (OVX) mice were determined.


METHODS
The crude extract of PM and its active phytoestrogen, miroestrol (MR), were given to OVX mice. The effect of them on antioxidation enzymes and glutathione (GSH) levels in livers and uteri were examined in OVX mice and compared with the synthetic estradiol hormone.


RESULTS
Ovariectomy significantly decreased total GSH content, reduced GSH content, and the ratio of GSH to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in both the livers and the uteri of mice. Moreover, an ovariectomy reduced the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The crude extract of PM as well as MR significantly increased levels of GSH, levels of reduced GSH, and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in both the livers and the uteri, while estradiol did not. In addition, the potential of PM and MR to return the activities of GPx, SOD, and CAT to normal levels was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations support using PM and MR as promising alternative medicine candidates for hormone replacement therapy of estradiol because of their ability to improve GSH levels and the activities of antioxidative enzymes, especially in OVX mice.
Research Group for Pharmaceutical Activities of Natural Products using Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (PANPB), Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand.
Waranya
W
Chatuphonprasert
Latiporn
L
Udomsuk
Orawan
O
Monthakantirat
Yaowared
Y
Churikhit
Waraporn
W
Putalun
Kanokwan
K
Jarukamjorn
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029908:Pueraria / Q000737:chemistry*; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids; C571572:miroestrol; D004958:Estradiol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide