title: Oriental medicine Kyung-Ok-Ko prevents and alleviates dehydroepiandrosterone-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats.
abstract: Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), a traditional herbal prescription composed of Rehmannia glutinosa Liboschitz var. purpurae, Lycium chinense, Aquillaria agallocha, Poria cocos, Panax ginseng, and honey, has been widely used in traditional Oriental medicine as a vitalizing medicine or as the prescription for patients with age-associated disorders such as amnesia and stroke. However, the potential protective value of KOK for the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is largely unknown. We investigated whether pre-administration (daily from 2 hours before PCOS induction) and post-administration (daily after induction of PCOS) of KOK (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg/day, p.o.) could have a protective effect in a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, s.c.)-induced PCOS rat model. Pre-administration of KOK significantly decreased the elevated body weight and ovary weight, elevated size and number of follicular cysts, elevated level of serum glucose, and estradiol after DHEA injection. KOK reduced the elevated percentage of CD8 (+) T lymphocytes in lymph nodes, the elevated mRNA expression of CD11b and CD3 in ovaries, and infiltration of macrophages in ovarian tissue with PCOS. KOK diminished the increased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), chemokines (IL-8, MCP-1), and iNOS in the ovaries, and increased the reduced mRNA expression of growth factors (EGF, TGF-β) by DHEA injection. Post-administration of KOK also improved the DHEA-induced PCOS-like symptoms, generally similar to those evident from pre-administration of KOK. KOK may effectively prevent and improve DHEA-induced PCOS via anti-inflammatory action, indicating its preventive and therapeutic potential for suppressing PCOS.
authors: Department of Convergence Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; Department of Cancer Preventive Material Development, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Minhee
authors: M
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Convergence Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; Department of Cancer Preventive Material Development, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Min Jung
authors: MJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jin Moo
authors: JM
authors: Lee
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Medical Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Chun-Sik
authors: CS
authors: Bae
authors: Department of Cancer Preventive Material Development, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sung-Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jong Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Ryu
authors: Department of Convergence Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ik-Hyun
authors: IH
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; C000592339:kyung-ok-ko; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol