Abstract
BackgroundModified Erxian decoction (MEXD), i.e., Erxian decoction (EXD) with Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (Wu Wei Zi) added, has been used to alleviate menopausal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MEXD on menopausal sweating and serum hormone levels in a rat model of menopause after oral administration of MEXD.MethodsQuality control of MEXD was conducted by employing a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography column. The three treatment groups received oral administration of MEXD in 0.5% sodium carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) at three different doses (5.5, 11, and 22 g/kg body weight) once-daily for 6 consecutive weeks, with 10 animals per group. Huangqijing oral liquor (5 mL/kg) prepared from the roots of Huang qi (Astragalus membranaceus) with an antiperspirant effect was used as a positive control. The negative control group received the same volume of vehicle (0.5% CMC-Na). Ten 3-month-old Sprague–Dawley rats were used as a young group for comparison with the treatment groups (12–14 months old rats). Blood was collected from all animals after 3–6 weeks of treatment. At the end of the treatment, the uterine weight, ovarian weight, and body weight were recorded. Serum malondialdehyde contents and superoxide dismutase activities were determined by thiobarbituric acid colorimetric assays and chemoluminescence assays, respectively. Serum levels of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were measured by radioimmunoassays. Rat foot pad assays were used to determine the antiperspirant activity of MEXD and histological examinations were conducted on plantar sweat glands.ResultsTreatment with MEXD (11 g/kg) significantly inhibited sweat excretion in the menopause model rats after treatment for 3 (P = 0.0026) and 6 (P < 0.0001) weeks. The decoction markedly decreased the number of secretory cells in plantar sweat glands. In addition, MEXD (11 g/kg) significantly increased the serum estradiol levels (P < 0.001) and superoxide dismutase activities (P = 0.0405). Furthermore, MEXD (11 g/kg) markedly decreased the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (P = 0.001), luteinizing hormone (P = 0.0213), and malondialdehyde (P = 0.01).ConclusionModified Erxian decoction significantly inhibited sweat excretion, regulated serum levels of pituitary gonadotropins and estradiol, and exhibited antioxidative effects in a rat model of menopause.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0117-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Modified Erxian decoction (MEXD), i.e., Erxian decoction (EXD) with Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (Wu Wei Zi) added, has been used to alleviate menopausal symptoms
This study aimed to investigate the effects of MEXD on menopausal sweating and serum hormone profiles in menopausal rats after oral administration of MEXD
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quality analysis The UV spectra of all eluted peaks from 200 to 400 nm in chromatograms of MEXD were measured by photodiode array detection, and the majority of the detectable peaks in the HPLC chromatograms were found at 254 nm
Summary
Modified Erxian decoction (MEXD), i.e., Erxian decoction (EXD) with Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (Wu Wei Zi) added, has been used to alleviate menopausal symptoms. More than 80% of middle-aged women suffer from vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, during menopause [2, 3]. One of the underlying mechanisms involves decreased secretion of sex hormones [4] through deterioration of ovarian functions in an agerelated free radical-predominant environment [5], which in turn elevates the production of the gonadotropins luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) [6]. This hormonal dysregulation eventually results in autonomic dysfunction, thereby disturbing the coordination of the neuroendocrine system. Concerns about increased risks of some chronic diseases, such as breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke, with HRT have stimulated interest in the development of safer alternative therapies [7]
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