Effect of Saraca asoca (Asoka) on estradiol-induced keratinizing metaplasia in rat uterus.
BACKGROUND
Estrogen-mediated uterus endometrium instability is considered as one of the etiological factors in dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) and uterine cancer. Saraca asoca (Family: Fabaceae) and its fermented preparation, Asokarishta, are extensively used as uterine tonic to treat gynecological disorders in Ayurveda. The present study evaluated the effect of S. asoca (Asoka) on estrogen-induced endometrial thickening of rat uterus.


METHODS
Endometrial thickening was induced by intraperitoneal injection of estradiol (20 μg/kg b.wt) to 8-day-old immature rats for alternate 5 days. Methanolic extract (200 mg/kg b. wt) from S. asoca bark was given orally along with estradiol. Uterus endometrial thickening was analyzed histopathologically and serum estrogen level by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression in rat uterus was also estimated by Western blot. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was analyzed by formalin- and carrageenan-elicited paw edema models in mouse.


RESULTS
Uterus endometrium proliferation and keratinized metaplasia with seven to eight stratified epithelial layers on day 16 was observed in rats administered with estradiol. Treatment with S. asoca reduced the thickening to two to four layers and the serum estrogen level diminished significantly to 82.9±12.87 pg/mL compared to rats administered with estrogen alone (111.2±10.68 pg/mL). A reduction of formalin- and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mouse by S. asoca extract was observed. Lower level of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced COX-2 enzyme in rat uterus by the extract further confirms its anti-inflammatory activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Present study reveals the antiproliferative and antikeratinizing effects of S. asoca in uterus endometrium possibly through its anti-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Adangam Purath
AP
Shahid
Sasidharan
S
Salini
Nanu
N
Sasidharan
Jose
J
Padikkala
Achuthan Chathrattil
AC
Raghavamenon
Thekkekara Devassy
TD
Babu
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000494:pharmacology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004958:Estradiol; D002351:Carrageenan; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2