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Estrogenic effects of Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) extracts and their ability to alleviate some menopausal symptoms induced by ovariectomy in Wistar rats.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Feb 17; 179:332-44.JE

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) is a medicinal plant used in Cameroon to treat amenorrhea as well as other physiological disorders related to menopause.

AIM OF STUDY

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.

MATERIAL AND 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.

CONCLUSION

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.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Zingue S
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.
Michel T
Institute of Chemistry of Nice, Faculty of Science, University Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR CNRS 7272, Valrose Park, F-06108 Nice Cedex 2, Nice, France.
Tchatchou J
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Chantal Beatrice Magne N
Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Winter E
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Monchot A
Institute of Chemistry of Nice, Faculty of Science, University Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR CNRS 7272, Valrose Park, F-06108 Nice Cedex 2, Nice, France.
Awounfack CF
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Djiogue S
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Clyne C
Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Fernandez X
Institute of Chemistry of Nice, Faculty of Science, University Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR CNRS 7272, Valrose Park, F-06108 Nice Cedex 2, Nice, France.
Creczynski-Pasa TB
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Njamen D
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: dnjamen@gmail.com.

MeSH

AnimalsCell SurvivalCells, CulturedEpitheliumEstrogensFemaleFicusHot FlashesHumansMammary Glands, HumanMenopauseOrgan SizeOvariectomyPlant ExtractsProteinsRatsRats, WistarReceptors, EstrogenUmbelliferonesUterusVagina

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

26771069

Citation

Zingue, Stéphane, et al. "Estrogenic Effects of Ficus Umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) Extracts and Their Ability to Alleviate some Menopausal Symptoms Induced By Ovariectomy in Wistar Rats." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 179, 2016, pp. 332-44.
Zingue S, Michel T, Tchatchou J, et al. Estrogenic effects of Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) extracts and their ability to alleviate some menopausal symptoms induced by ovariectomy in Wistar rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;179:332-44.
Zingue, S., Michel, T., Tchatchou, J., Chantal Beatrice Magne, N., Winter, E., Monchot, A., Awounfack, C. F., Djiogue, S., Clyne, C., Fernandez, X., Creczynski-Pasa, T. B., & Njamen, D. (2016). Estrogenic effects of Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) extracts and their ability to alleviate some menopausal symptoms induced by ovariectomy in Wistar rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 179, 332-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.004
Zingue S, et al. Estrogenic Effects of Ficus Umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) Extracts and Their Ability to Alleviate some Menopausal Symptoms Induced By Ovariectomy in Wistar Rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Feb 17;179:332-44. PubMed PMID: 26771069.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Estrogenic effects of Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) extracts and their ability to alleviate some menopausal symptoms induced by ovariectomy in Wistar rats. AU - Zingue,Stéphane, AU - Michel,Thomas, AU - Tchatchou,Jules, AU - Chantal Beatrice Magne,Nde, AU - Winter,Evelyn, AU - Monchot,André, AU - Awounfack,Charline Florence, AU - Djiogue,Sefirin, AU - Clyne,Colin, AU - Fernandez,Xavier, AU - Creczynski-Pasa,Tânia Beatriz, AU - Njamen,Dieudonné, Y1 - 2016/01/04/ PY - 2015/09/06/received PY - 2015/12/30/revised PY - 2016/01/02/accepted PY - 2016/1/16/entrez PY - 2016/1/16/pubmed PY - 2016/12/15/medline KW - Coumarins KW - Ficus umbellata KW - Hot flushes KW - Phytoestrogens KW - Uterotrophic effects SP - 332 EP - 44 JF - Journal of ethnopharmacology JO - J Ethnopharmacol VL - 179 N2 - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) is a medicinal plant used in Cameroon to treat amenorrhea as well as other physiological disorders related to menopause. AIM OF STUDY: 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. MATERIAL AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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. SN - 1872-7573 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/26771069/Estrogenic_effects_of_Ficus_umbellata_Vahl___Moraceae__extracts_and_their_ability_to_alleviate_some_menopausal_symptoms_induced_by_ovariectomy_in_Wistar_rats_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -