Abstract
Red clover and hops are already known for their alternative menopausal therapies; however, their combination has not yet been studied. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of red clover and hops extract (RHEC) for treating menopausal symptoms for the first time. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for RHEC was developed and validated for the analysis of biochanin A in red clover extract and xanthohumol in hops extract. An in vivo study was conducted using an ovariectomized rat model treated with RHEC (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) for a 12-week test period. Changes in body weight, tail skin temperature (TST), serum lipid profile, bone metabolism, antioxidants, and markers of vasorelaxation and uterus endometrium were evaluated. RHEC significantly inhibited body weight gain and decreased fat weight. Changes in TST associated with flashes were significantly inhibited in the RHEC groups. Other markers related to menopausal symptoms, such as blood lipid profile (total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol), bone metabolism (serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and c-terminal telopeptide type 1), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde), and vasorelaxants (endothelin-1 and nitric oxide), were significantly improved after the administration of RHEC. We also confirmed the safety of RHEC through histopathological observation of the endometrium. Our findings demonstrate that RHEC appears to have high potential for comprehensively improving various symptoms of menopause.
Highlights
Menopause is a natural process that develops in women typically in their late 40s and involves a decrease in the estrogen levels, due to ovarian decline [1, 2]. is decrease in estrogen levels is accompanied by various symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and depression [3]
We investigate the effects of red clover and hops extract (RHEC) on tail skin temperature (TST), serum lipid profile, bone metabolism, antioxidant, and markers of vasorelaxation using an ovariectomized model (OVX) that displays a decline in estrogen levels similar to that in menopausal women
Based on the absorption and retention time of standard materials, biochanin A and xanthohumol (Figure 1(a)) were identified as major components of RHEC, and the results confirmed that RHEC contained 10.3 ± 0.9 mg/g biochanin A (25.4 min) and 0.3 ± 0.04 mg/g xanthohumol (38.1 min) (Figure 1(b))
Summary
Menopause is a natural process that develops in women typically in their late 40s and involves a decrease in the estrogen levels, due to ovarian decline [1, 2]. is decrease in estrogen levels is accompanied by various symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and depression [3]. Estrogen deficiency can lead to an increased risk of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension [4,5,6] It affects the atherogenic lipid profile, such as the levels of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol [7]. Us, red clover botanical dietary supplements have been used for treating menopausal symptoms and for maintaining or improving cardiovascular health. Hops dietary supplements have been studied as botanical alternatives to hormone therapy for relief from hot flashes and related symptoms in menopausal women [12]. We investigate the effects of RHEC on tail skin temperature (TST), serum lipid profile, bone metabolism, antioxidant, and markers of vasorelaxation using an ovariectomized model (OVX) that displays a decline in estrogen levels similar to that in menopausal women
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