Abstract
Panax ginseng (GS) and Veratrum nigrum (VN) are representative of incompatible pairs in “eighteen antagonistic medicaments” that have been recorded in the Chinese medicinal literature for over 2,000 years. However, evidence linking interference effects with combination use is scare. Based on the estrogen-like effect of GS described in our previous studies, we undertake a characterization of the interaction on estrogenic activity of GS and VN using in vivo models of immature and ovariectomized (OVX) mice and in vitro studies with MCF-7 cells for further mechanism. VN decreased the estrogenic efficacy of GS on promoting the development of the uterus and vagina in immature mice, and reversing the atrophy of reproductive tissues in OVX mice. VN interfered with the estrogenic efficacy of GS by decreasing the increase of the serum estradiol and the up-regulation of ERα and ERβ expressions by treatment with GS. And VN antagonized the estrogenic efficacy of GS on promoting the viability of MCF-7 cells and up-regulation of protein and gene expressions of ERs. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that GS and VN decreased effects on estrogenic activity, which might be related to regulation of estrogen secretion and ERs.
Highlights
Panax ginseng (GS) and Veratrum nigrum (VN) are representative of incompatible pairs recorded in “the eighteen incompatible medicaments”
The results suggest that VN could antagonize the estrogenic efficacy of GS on increasing the uterine weight of immature and OVX mice
The results showed that VN exhibits antagonistic features against the estrogenic efficacy of GS by attenuating the increase of serum estradiol and the up-regulation of ERαand ERβexpression caused by treatment with GS
Summary
Panax ginseng (GS) and Veratrum nigrum (VN) are representative of incompatible pairs recorded in “the eighteen incompatible medicaments”. There are few researches that focus on the effects of incompatible pairs. Another study showed that GS-VN in combination exerted anti-obesity effects both in vivo and in vitro. We have provided systematic evidences that GS exerts estrogenic effects in immature mice or ovariectomized (OVX) mice[13,14]. This led us to consider the following question: as incompatible pairs, does VN have anti-estrogenic effects? In order to answer this question, this study concentrated on the interaction on estrogenic activity of GS after treated with VN using in vivo model of immature and ovariectomized (OVX) mice. This study is part of an on-going effort to provide insight into the nature of GS and VN incompatibility
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