effect of Momordica charantia intake on the estrogen receptors ESRα/ESRβ gene levels and apoptosis on uterine tissue in ovariectomy rats

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2015-01, Vol.42 (1), p.167-177
• Main Authors: Cevik, Ozge, Akpinar, Hikmet, Oba, Rabia, Cilingir, Ozlem Tugce, Ozdemir, Zarife Nigar, Cetinel, Sule, Yoldemir, Tevfik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; animal models; Animals; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; blood serum; Body Weight - drug effects; caspase-3; caspase-9; Deoxyguanosine - analogs & derivatives; Deoxyguanosine - blood; DNA Damage; estradiol; Estradiol - blood; Estrogen Receptor alpha - genetics; Estrogen Receptor alpha - metabolism; Estrogen Receptor beta - genetics; Estrogen Receptor beta - metabolism; estrogen receptors; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; genes; Glutathione - metabolism; Histology; hormone replacement therapy; interleukin-10; interleukin-6; Life Sciences; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Momordica charantia; Momordica charantia - chemistry; Morphology; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Organ Size - drug effects; Ovariectomy; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Peroxidase - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; postmenopause; rats; Rats, Wistar; risk; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; tissue repair; transcription factor NF-kappa B; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; uterine tissue; Uterus - cytology; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - metabolism; Western blotting
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-014-3756-7

Estrogen or combinational hormone therapy can protect to menopausal symptoms but exogenous estrogen therapy has some potential risks which in turns lead to the appearance of various diseases. In recent years plants with high phytoestrogen content are recommended as therapeutic agents for postmenopausal hormonal treatment. In this research, we investigated the effects of Momordica charantia (MC) on the estrogen production and E2 as well as anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic role on the ovariectomy rat model. The rats were ovariectomized and fed on 2 g/kg of fruit extra of MC for 30 days by gavage. 17-β estradiol (E2) and 8-OHdG levels in serum, markers of oxidative damage of ROS and ESRα, ESRβ and NF-kB gene levels were measured in uterus horn tissue. Caspase-3, caspase-9, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, Bcl-2 and Nf-kB proteins expression were assessed by western blotting. Structural changes in tissue were examined with H&E staining. MC administration also stimulated the E2 production and ESRα/ESRβ gene levels and the inhibited oxidative damage. Furthermore, MC treatment enhanced anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory process and tissue regeneration. Data herein support that MC directly regulates uterine estrogen response and may serve as a new phytoestrogenic substance for the treatment of post-menopausal symptoms.