The Effectiveness of Ecklonia Cava Kjellman Extract in Improving Menopausal Syndrome in Osteoporosis and Depression

Abstract

Ecklonia cava (EC) is a natural material commonly used to decrease swelling, allergy, cancer, and sleep issues. Using EC has been reported to regulate hormones during ovarian failure in an aromatase inhibition rodent model. The aim of this study was to investigate EC’s benefits on ovariectomized female mice. Hormone replacement therapy is beneficial in menopause, but the risk of side effects increases. In the present study, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and tryptophan hydroxylases (TPHs) expression were studied after the EC extracts were incorporated as elemental, phloroglucinol, eckol, dieckol, 6,6′-biekcol, and 8,8′-bieckol. In this in vivo study, the following seven groups of 10-week-old Balb/c female mice were evaluated over 8 weeks: normal mice (Sham), ovariectomized mice (OVX), ovariectomized and restraint stressed mice (OVX + R), ovariectomized and 17β-estradiol-treated mice (OVX + R + E2), ovariectomized and fluoxetine-treated mice (OVX + R + E2), and ovariectomized and EC-extract-treated mice (OVX + R + EC150 or OVX + R + EC300). The serum lipid profile, bone loss, and depressive symptoms were investigated in an ovariectomized and restraint-stressed mice model. In the in vitro models, ALP activity was dose-dependently upregulated by EC, including phloroglucinol, eckol, dieckol, 6,6′-biekcol, and 8,8′-bieckol, in RBL-2H3 cells. The transcripts of TPH1 and TPH2 were induced by EC and/or its elements (phloroglucinol, eckol, dieckol, 6,6′-biekcol, and 8,8′-bieckol) in RBL-2H3 cells. The re-uptake activity of serotonin (5-HT) was also decreased by EC and its ingredients such as phloroglucinol, eckol, dieckol, 6,6′-biekcol, and 8,8′-bieckol. In the models, the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were downregulated in OVX + R mice by EC treatment. The bone mineral density (BMD) was determined in EC-treated groups, and the bone metabolism markers, CTX and osteocalcin, were also reduced to normal levels. The depression experiments revealed that the immobility time was shortened in the forced-swimming test in OVX + R mice. Moreover, the serum serotonin level was promoted by EC treatment in OVX + R mice. These results showed that EC extract inhibits bone loss and depressive symptoms in a menopausal mouse model by modulating bone metabolism markers (CTX and osteocalcin) and serotonin level in OVX + R mice.