Estrogenic Effects of Extracts and Isolated Compounds from Belowground and Aerial Parts of Spartina anglica

Abstract

Menopause, caused by decreases in estrogen production, results in symptoms such as facial flushing, vaginal atrophy, and osteoporosis. Although hormone replacement therapy is utilized to treat menopausal symptoms, it is associated with a risk of breast cancer development. We aimed to evaluate the estrogenic activities of Spartina anglica (SA) and its compounds and identify potential candidates for the treatment of estrogen reduction without the risk of breast cancer. We evaluated the estrogenic and anti-proliferative effects of extracts of SA and its compounds in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We performed an uterotrophic assay using an immature female rat model. Among extracts of SA, belowground part (SA-bg-E50) had potent estrogenic activity. In the immature female rat model, the administration of SA-bg-E50 increased uterine weight compared with that in the normal group. Among the compounds isolated from SA, 1,3-di-O-trans-feruloyl-(-)-quinic acid (1) had significant estrogenic activity and induced phosphorylation at serine residues of estrogen receptor (ER)α. All extracts and compounds from SA did not increase MCF-7 cell proliferation. Compound 1 is expected to act as an ERα ligand and have estrogenic effects, without side effects, such as breast cancer development.

Loss of N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase V is involved in the impaired osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

“…The bone resorption is greater than the bone formation, thereby causing loss of bone [6]. At present, the medicinal treatments for OP included calcitonin, bisphosphonates (alendronate) and estrogen replacement [7][8][9]. However, these drugs have side effects and limitations after long-term treatment, including atypical femur fracture and jaw necrosis [10,11].…”