Effects of the Mixture of <i>Erigeron floribundus</i> (<i>Asteraceae</i>) and <i>Tragia benthamii</i> (<i>Euphorbiaceae</i>) on the Growth and Architecture of Estrogen-Sensitive Sexual Organs

Abstract

The mixture of Erigeron floribundus and Tragia benthamii (AEMEFTB) is traditionally used against pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and female sexual dysfunctions. In a recent study, we showed that the aqueous extract of the mixture of AEMEFTB suppresses the endometrium growth in rats with experimental endometriosis. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of AEM-EFTB on estrogen's sensitive sexual organs growth and architecture. Immature gonado-intact female rats were randomly distributed into 7 groups of 5 animals each and daily treated during one week with either distilled water (10 ml/kg), refined palm oil (1 ml/kg) or 17β-estradiol (1 μg/day). Plant extract groups received aqueous extract of AEMEFTB at 130 or 260 mg/kg. The remaining groups were co-administered with 17β-estradiol (1 μg) plus 130 or 260 mg/kg of the plant mixture. Moreover, thirty-five immature female rats were bilaterally ovariectomized, then left and treated as before. Five other females, considered as sham animals, orally received distilled water (10 ml/kg). The body weight of each animal was recorded daily and at the end of the treatment (day 8), animals were sacrificed under anesthesia, and the vaginas, uteruses and ovaries (if any) were collected for analysis. Treatment with AEMEFTB did not affect the ovarian weight and architecture in gonado-intact immature female rats. However, a moderate increase of the uterine weight was recorded in animals treated with plant mixture at the high dose (260 mg/kg). On the contrary, a drop in the uterine growth index and total plasmatic proteins was observed in immature females coadministered with the extract and estradiol. Results from this work showed that the mixture of Erigeron floribundus and Tragia benthamii possesses a weak but observable estrogen-mimetic potential.