Ethanolic extract of Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) seeds induced antiestrogenic effects in young female Wistar rats

• Published in: Journal of complementary & integrative medicine Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 175 - 183
• Main Authors: Minko Essono, Stéphane, Mvondo, Marie Alfrede, Wego, Marius Trésor Kamgaing, Kemka Nguimatio, François Xavier, Momo Tetsatsi, Aimé Césaire, Watcho, Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 01.06.2024
• Subjects: anti-estrogenic effects; estrogen-receptor antagonists; ovariectomized rat; anti-estrogenic effects; ovariectomized rat; Persea americana; estrogen-receptor antagonists
• ISSN: 2194-6329; 1553-3840; 1553-3840
• DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2023-0218

The ethanol extract of seeds was found to inhibit the development of estrogen-dependent conditions in female Wistar rats, suggesting the ability of its secondary metabolites to interact with estrogen receptors (ERs), either as partial agonists or as antagonists. To test this hypothesis, the abovementioned extract was assessed for its ability to mimic and/or antagonize estradiol effects. Two experiments were conducted in ovariectomized (OVX) rats: (1) animals were treated with estradiol valerate (E V; 1 mg/kg) or at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg; (2) animals were treated with E V alone (0.75 mg/kg) or in combination with at the abovementioned doses. Treatments were given orally for 3 days and animals were sacrificed for biochemical and histological analyses of the uterus and vagina. When administered alone, did not change the histomorphology of both organs (uterus and vagina). In combination with E V, decreased uterine weight [30 % decrease (p<0.001) at 25 mg/kg and 24 % (p<0.01) at 50 mg/kg] and epithelium height (37 % decrease). This was associated with decreased estradiol levels (at least 86 % decrease, p<0.001) in the uterus. Similarly, vagina epithelium height decreased by at least 34 % (p<0.05) when E V was co-administered with . The seed extract of contains ER antagonist secondary metabolites accounting for its ability to inhibit the development of estrogen-dependent conditions in female rats.