Miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol are phytoestrogens isolated from tuberous root of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica. Modulatory effects of miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol on enzymes involved in sex-hormone synthesis pathway in male C57BL/6 mice were investigated using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol suppressed the expressions of 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD1, and CYP17 while CYP19 mRNA expression was slightly decreased. In addition, the expression of 17β-HSD2 was induced in correlation with those did by estradiol. These observations supported that miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol could exhibit the same effect as estradiol regarding regulation of testicular gene related sex hormone synthesis pathway.
In female, estrogen exerts important effects on cardiovas-cular diseases and bone loss. Estrogen deficiency is con-sidered to be a major factor of bone loss in postmenopausal women because estrogen inhibits bone loss by reducing bone resorption. Phytoestrogen-containing foods, such as soy, rye, and burgen bread, and other related products, now widely available as food supplements, are becoming part of the vocabulary of patients in gynecology and menopause clinics. In recent years, phytoestrogens have generated growing interest due to their potential on health benefits such as relieves of pre- and post-menopausal symptoms. There was an evidence to support the hypothesis that phytoestrogen consumption contributed to the lower incidence of cardiovascular disease in Asian countries and vegetarians. Miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol are phytoestrogens found in P. candollei var. mirifica which have been traditionally used as an alternative medicine for hormone replacement therapy.
The findings revealed that miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol might be useful for hormone replacement therapy due to their similar effects as estradiol on gene-regulated sex hormone synthesis pathway.
Latiporn Udomsuk, Thaweesak Juengwatanatrakul, Waraporn Putalun, and Kanokwan Jarukamjorn
Academic Office for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
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