A traditional Chinese Medicine Proves the Treatment of Endometrial Hyperplasia Via Regulating the HPO Axis in Rats

Abstract

Background: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, accompanied by endometrial hyperplasia, is a common gynecological disease regulated by multiple hormones, which seriously affects female physical and mental health. Some drugs have been prompted to cure the disease, but most drugs have certain side effects and limitations. Nonetheless, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could provide a novel perspective for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia and related complications. Methods: The active components from Saururus chinensis, Celosia cristata and Spatholobus suberectus (Referred to as SCS) were determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. An acute high-dose SCS test was performed to evaluate the toxicity of SCS. The serum samples were used to identify the alterations involved in the biochemical index and concentration of four key hormones related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis. In addition, the expression of two essential genes regulated by the HPO axis was determined by the RT-qPCR method.Results: In the present study, we identified the active components (e.g., sauchinone and formononetin) from the Chinese herbs via TLC and HPLC methods. In addition, the results from the serum biochemical index and histologic section found that acute high-dose SCS exerted no adverse impacts on the rats. We then illustrated that SCS could shorten hemostatic, coagulation time and degree of swelling on rats. Furthermore, SCS decreased the value of erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit in serum. Further studies were conducted to provide direct evidence that the recovery of endometrial hyperplasia was associated with the modulation of four hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol and progesterone). Besides, SCS altered mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 on the uterine endometrium, thereby promoting the repair of proliferating endometrium in the rats. Conclusion: Collectively, we demonstrated that an unexploited Chinese traditional medicine, a combination of S. chinensis, C. cristata and S. suberectus, could be used for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia and associated complications in the rats, and uncovers the mechanism at molecular and gene expression levels.