Estrogenic and Antioxidant Activities of Pterocarpus soyauxii (Fabaceae) Heartwood Aqueous Extract in Bilateral Oophorectomized Wistar Rat

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are used to ease postmenopausal symptoms, a property probably due to estrogenic and antioxidant effects. Pterocarpus soyauxii (P. soyauxii) is empirically used in Cameroon to treat among others primary and secondary amenorrhea. The aim of this study is to evaluate estrogenic and antioxidant activities of P. soyauxii heartwood aqueous extract in bilateral oophorectomized Wistar rats. Firstly, a characterization of the extract was carried out. For that, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins levels in P. soyauxii extract were evaluated by colorimetric assays and UHPLC-MS analysis was realized. In vitro antioxidant analysis of P. soyauxii was conducted using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Secondly, 2 sets of pharmacologic tests were carried out. The results revealed that P. soyauxii aqueous extract contains, respectively, 229.42 ± 3.62 mg EAG/g, 63.42 ± 2.16 mg EQ/g, and 27.88 ± 0.23 mg ETA/g of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. UHPLC-MS enabled identifying seven components including mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, cembrene, 3′,5′-dimethoxy-4-stilbenol, and linoleic acid. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays revealed that P. soyauxii extract possessed a high antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 730.20 µg/mL, 892.90 µg/mL, and 765.75 mEAG/g of extract, respectively. In the uterotrophic assay, P. soyauxii extract induced significant increase of fresh uterine weight, uterine and vaginal epithelial size, and mammary glands differentiation compared to Ovx control. In the postmenopausal model, compared to the sham control, vagina and uterine dystrophies were observed in Ovx rats treated with distilled water. P. soyauxii aqueous extract expressed estrogenic-like effects on vagina and did not affect uterine epithelial height compared with vehicle groups. On the back of these vaginotrophic effects, the extract displayed antiatherogenic properties by reducing ( p < 0.001) AI and LDL cholesterol level as compared to Ovx control group. The extract at 200 mg/kg significantly prevented the increase of MDA ( p < 0.01) level and decreased nitrites ( p < 0.001) and GSH ( p < 0.01) levels compared to Ovx rats. These beneficial effects are related at least in part to the presence of compound such as mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 3′,5′-dimethoxy-4-stilbenol, and linoleic acid. Overall, P. soyauxii aqueous extract exhibits estrogenic and antioxidant effects which can inhibit postmenopausal symptoms by providing vaginal stratification, improving lipid profile and insulin sensitivity, and reducing oxidative stress without side effects on the endometrium and mammary gland in 84-day Ovx rats.

An experimental and computational approach to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of Guggul gum by inhibition of a common diabetes target

“…The 5th and 6th compounds in the GCMS analysis represent diterpenoids like Cembrene and Neocembrene respectively. o Estrogenic and antioxidant activity [31].…”

Postmenopausal Status Exacerbates Stress-Related Neurological Disorders in Rats

“…Forty-eight female rats aged 8-10 weeks were randomly assigned to one of two distinct sets: twenty-four rats were sham-operated, and the same number were ovariectomized using a dorsal approach, following the protocols described by Mengue et al [24] and Minami et al [25]. After 2 weeks of healing of the injured dorsal region, sets of rats were divided into 4 groups, including a control, a group of immobilized animals (IS), a group of animals with social instability stress (SIS), and a group stressing with the 2 types of stress (SIS + IS).…”

“…Furthermore, women usually complain about asthenia and slowed physical activity during the menopause stage [18][19][20]. It is well known that stress can promote neuronal impairment in healthy people, but few studies have focused on the impacts of stress on physiological pathways in menopausal women [21][22][23][24]. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effects of stress in PM conditions.…”