title: Short-time QiBaoMeiRan Formula Treatment Exerts Estrogenic Activities without Side Effects on Reproductive Tissues in Immature Mice.
abstract: The Chinese herbal preparation QiBaoMeiRan formula (QBMR) displayed estrogenic effects in ovariectomized rats after long-term administration in a previous study. The uterus and vagina are negatively influenced by estrogens in hormone therapy. While QBMR is known to be a phytoestrogen, its estrogenic effects and safety on reproductive tissues after short-term administration and its mechanism via estrogen receptor (ER) pathway haven't been studied. Here, we characterized its estrogenic effects using immature mice together with in vitro studies for further molecular characterization. Immature mice were treated with QBMR at doses of 1.125, 2.25, and 4.5 g/kg for 7 days. 1.125 and 2.25 g/kg QBMR promoted the growth and development of uterus and vagina, and upregulated ERα and ERβ expression in reproductive tissues. QBMR had a stimulatory effect on proliferating cell nuclear antigen in vagina but not in uterus, and was without any influence on ki-67 antigen in uterus and vagina. QBMR significantly induced luciferase expression from the ERα/β-estrogen response element (ERE) luciferase reporter and upregulated ERα and ERβ expressions in MCF-7 cells, which were significantly inhibited by estrogen antagonist ICI182,780. This study demonstrated QBMR exerts estrogenic effects on reproductive tissues without side effects and through ER-ERE-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Jin-na
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The Key Laboratory for Pharmacology of Compound Chinese Medicine of Shanghai, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zi-jia
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Ya-kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Theory, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongcheng District Dongzhimen Nanxiao Road 16, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004967:Estrogens; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C000597912:qibaomeiran; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone