title: In vivo estrogenic-like activities of Gouania longipetala Hemsl. (Rhamnaceae) bark extracts in a post-menopause-like model of ovariectomized Wistar rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gouania longipetala is commonly used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to manage women fertility and menopausal complaints. However, despite this use, the estrogenic properties of G. longipetala have not been studied until now.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was aimed to assess estrogenic activities of the stem bark aqueous (GLA) and ethanolic (GLE) extracts of G. longipetala in post-menopause-like model of ovariectomized (Ovx) Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were either sham-operated or Ovx. 84 days after ovariectomy, animals were divided into seven groups of five animals and were daily treated for 28 days with distilled water (10 mL/kg) for group 1, 2% solution of Tween 80 (10 mL/kg) for group 2, estradiol valerate (1 mg/kg) for group 3, GLA (45 or 180 mg/kg) and GLE (40 or 160 mg/kg) for groups 4 to 7 respectively. Sham-operated animals daily received distilled water (10 mL/kg). During the experimental period, the body weight was registered every week. At the day 29, blood pressure was registered by invasive method while uterine and vagina morphometry as well as body, uterine and abdominal fat weights changes were analyzed. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were determined. Moreover, oxidative stress markers such as nitrites, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in homogenized liver and aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the sham control, vagina and uterine dystrophy and elevated blood pressure were observed in Ovx rats treated with vehicles. Biochemical parameters showed a significant increase of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and MDA as well as a significant decrease of nitrites and GSH in Ovx animals treated with vehicle as compared to sham group. GLA and GLE displayed estrogen-like effects on vagina and did not affect uterine wet weight and epithelial height compared with vehicle groups. Both extracts displayed anti-atherogenic properties by reducing AI, AIP and LDL-cholesterol level as compared to vehicles groups. GLA and GLE significantly prevented the increase of MDA induced by ovariectomy as compared to rats treated with vehicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that GLA and GLE exhibited estrogenic effects by providing vaginal lubrication, by modulating blood pressure and improving lipid profile, oxidative status and endothelial function and may not have an undesirable influence on the endometrium in ovariectomized rats.
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Dzeufiet Djomeni
authors: DD
authors: Paul Désiré
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Mengue Ngadena
authors: MN
authors: Yolande Sandrine
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Bilanda
authors: B
authors: Danielle Claude
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Kameni
authors: K
authors: Mireille
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Aboubakar
authors: A
authors: Oumarou Bibi-Farouck
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Dimo
authors: D
authors: Théophile
authors: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors: Kamtchouing
authors: K
authors: Pierre
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D010052:Ovariectomy; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027823:Rhamnaceae; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Anti-atherogenic; Estrogen-like; Gouania longipetala; Oxidative status; Post-menopause