A Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Endometrial Hyperplasia via Regulating the HPO Axis in Rats

Abstract

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, accompanied by endometrial hyperplasia (EH), is a common gynecological disease that seriously affects female physical and mental health. Some drugs have been prompted to cure the disease, but most medications have certain side effects and limitations. In the present study, we demonstrated an unexploited Chinese traditional medicine, a combination of Saururus chinensis, Celosia cristata, and Spatholobus suberectus (SCS), which could be used for the treatment of EH and associated complications in rats. We identified the active components from the three Chinese herbs via thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. In addition, serum biochemical indexes and histologic section results found that acute high-dose SCS exerted no adverse impacts on the rats. We then showed that SCS shortened coagulation time ( p = 0.018 ) and degree of swelling ( p = 0.021 ) on rats at 30 min compared to blank control. Further studies proved that recovered endometrial thickness was associated with the modulation of four hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone). Specifically, follicle-stimulating hormone and progesterone contents increased gradually with time, and estrogen was decreased, whereas luteinizing hormone content was returned to normal after a short-term elevation ( p < 0.05 ). Besides, SCS increased uterine endometrium’s mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 ( p < 0.001 ) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 ( p < 0.001 ), promoting the repair of proliferating endometrium in the rats. Collectively, our study indicates that SCS harbors a profoundly curative effect on the treatment of EH and relative complications and uncovers the mechanism at molecular and gene expression levels.

Processed Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua attenuates postpartum depression in rat model by regulating monoamines and hormones

“…A decrease in serum estrogen levels leads to an overproduction of GnRH, FSH and other hormones by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland due to a negative feedback mechanism. This hyperfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis, in turn, causes dysfunction within the axis [ 47 ]. Studies have found that estrogen increases by 1000 times the normal levels shortly before delivery, and then decreases sharply after placental discharge [ 48 ].…”

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approach to Reveal the Immunotherapeutic Mechanism of Cuscutae Semen in Treating Thin Endometrium

“…Thin endometrium (endometrial thickness < 6 mm) may be a contributing factor to the increased risk of infertility [ 26 ]. TCM appears to be an effective method in the treatment of female endometrium disease, such as thin endometrium [ 11 ], dysfunctional uterine bleeding accompanied by endometrial hyperplasia [ 27 ], and low endometrial receptivity [ 28 ]. As a Chinese medical material, CS (the ripe dried seeds of Cuscuta australis R.Br.…”