Effects of the Mixture of <i>Erigeron floribundus</i> (<i>Asteraceae</i>) and <i>Tragia benthamii</i> (<i>Euphorbiaceae</i>) on the Growth and Architecture of Estrogen-Sensitive Sexual Organs

Abstract

The mixture of Erigeron floribundus and Tragia benthamii (AEMEFTB) is tra ditionally used against pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and female sexual dysfunctions. In a recent study, we showed that the aqueous extract of the mixture of AEMEFTB suppresses the endometrium growth in rat s with experimental en dometriosis. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of AEM EFTB on estrogen’s sensitive sexual organs growth and architecture. Imma ture gonado-intact female rats were randomly distributed into 7 groups of 5 ani mals each and daily treated during one week with either distilled water (10 ml/kg), refined palm oil (1 ml/kg) or 17 β -estradiol (1 μg/day). Plant extract groups received aqueous extract of AEMEFTB at 130 or 260 mg/kg. The remaining groups were co-administered with 17 β -estradiol (1 μg) plus 130 or 260 mg/kg of the plant mixture. Moreover, thirty-five immature female rats were bilaterally ovariectomized, then left and treated as before. Five other females, considered as sham animals, orally received distilled water (10 ml/kg). The body weight of each animal was recorded daily and at the end of the treatment (day 8), animals were sacrificed under anesthesia , and the vagina s , uterus es and ovaries (if any) were collected for analysis. Treatment with AEMEFTB did not affect the ova rian weight and architecture in gonado-intact immature female rats. However, a moderate increase of the uterine weight was recorded in animals treated with plant mixture at the high dose (260 mg/kg). On the contrary, a drop in the uterine growth index and total plasmatic proteins w as observed in immature females co-administered with the extract and estradiol. Results from this work showed that the mixture of Erigeron flori bundus and Tragia benthamii possesses a weak but observable estro gen-mimetic potential.