title: Estrogenic effects of Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) extracts and their ability to alleviate some menopausal symptoms induced by ovariectomy in Wistar rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) is a medicinal plant used in Cameroon to treat amenorrhea as well as other physiological disorders related to menopause.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In order to justify scientifically its traditional use, the estrogen-like properties of the aqueous (AE) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of F. umbellata were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro, the ability of different extracts of F. umbellata to activate estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β (ERβ) in cell-based reporter gene assays using human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells transfected with ERs was tested. In vivo, a 3-day uterotrophic assay and the capacity of the extracts to alleviate hot flushes in ovariectomized adult rats were tested. Using a bioassay-guided fractionation the major compound of F. umbellata was isolated and tested in vitro on HEK293T-ERα and ERβ cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AE and MeOH extracts significantly altered ERα as well as ERβ activities. In vivo, both extracts significantly increase the uterine and vaginal epithelium thickness, and uterine total protein levels in a dose dependent manner. Interestingly, both extracts of F. umbellata at the dose of 100 mg/kg BW significantly decreased the total number, average duration as well as frequency of hot flushes in experimental rats compared to age-matched OVX controls. Finally, 7-methylumbelliferone, a coumarin was characterized as the major compound of F. umbellata; however this compound did not transactivate ERα as well ERβ in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These aforementioned results suggest that F. umbellata extracts as used by the traditional practitioner have estrogen-like effects and may alleviate some menopausal problems such as vaginal dryness and hot flushes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 55, Maroua, Cameroon; Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zingue
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry of Nice, Faculty of Science, University Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR CNRS 7272, Valrose Park, F-06108 Nice Cedex 2, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jules
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tchatchou
authors.affiliation: Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Nde
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chantal Beatrice Magne
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry of Nice, Faculty of Science, University Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR CNRS 7272, Valrose Park, F-06108 Nice Cedex 2, Nice, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monchot
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Charline Florence
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Awounfack
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sefirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djiogue
authors.affiliation: Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clyne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry of Nice, Faculty of Science, University Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR CNRS 7272, Valrose Park, F-06108 Nice Cedex 2, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tânia Beatriz
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Creczynski-Pasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: dnjamen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dieudonné
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Njamen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D014468:Umbelliferones / Q000494:pharmacology; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014468:Umbelliferones
keywords: Coumarins; Ficus umbellata; Hot flushes; Phytoestrogens; Uterotrophic effects