A Randomised,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Resveratrol Supplementation for Prophylaxis of Hormonal Migraine

Resveratrol, a vasoactive phytoestrogen, has beneficial effects on cerebrovascular function. Previous research has shown that hormonal migraineurs have poorer cerebrovascular function than non-migraineur women. We aimed to investigate if resveratrol supplementation for three months could reduce the hormonal migraine burden index (HMBI: the number of days with menstrual migraine per month), reduce migraine-related disability and improve migraine-related quality of life. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, intervention trial was conducted in 62 hormonal migraineurs (mean age: 37.5 ± 0.8 years). Participants consumed 75 mg of resveratrol or matching placebo capsules twice daily for three months before crossing over to the other treatment arm. Participants completed a daily diary and the Headache Impact Test-6™, Migraine Disability Assessment and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life questionnaires at months 0, 3 and 6. The HMBI was the primary outcome and was calculated using data extracted from the participant’s diary. No differences in the HMBI (p = 0.895), the Headache Impact Test-6™, the Migraine Disability Assessment and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life were found between the resveratrol and placebo treatments. Resveratrol supplementation for three months did not affect the HMBI, the migraine-related disability or quality of life measures in our cohort of hormonal migraineurs.     

熟地等4味中药的植物雌激素作用的实验研究

目的:观察熟地黄、白芍、当归、川芎等中药对性未成熟SD大鼠子宫系数的影响,以及含药血清对人乳腺癌MCF7细胞体外增殖的影响,评价其植物雌激素样作用.方法:正常雌性性未成熟SD大鼠,体重(70±5)g,按体重均衡和随机的原则分为7组(正常对照、己烯雌酚、熟地黄、白芍、当归、川芎和四物汤组),分别每天分早、晚2次灌胃,给药均持续4 d,第5天腹主动脉取血,分离血清,分离子宫并称重,免疫组化法测定子宫组织雌激素受体表达量;药物血清用于MCF7细胞体外增殖,细胞周期和雌激素受体ERα蛋白表达的测定.结果:熟地黄、白芍和当归组的幼鼠子宫系数均高于正常对照组(P＜0.05);川芎组幼鼠子宫系数与正常对照组相比,差异无统计学意义;白芍、当归、川芎的含药血清均可显著促进MCF7细胞MTT体外增殖(P＜0.05),并且4味中药的药物血清均能使MCF7细胞S期细胞数和细胞增殖指数PI增加(P＜0.01),当归和川芎可提高MCF7细胞ERα蛋白的表达水平(P＜0.05),熟地黄和白芍的药物血清对MCF7细胞的ERα蛋白表达水平,与正常对照组相比,差异无统计学意义.结论:熟地黄、白芍和当归等中药的免煎剂有植物雌激素样作用,川芎组整体实验和体外细胞培养结果不完全一致,已烯雌酚在本实验剂量时有使幼鼠体重增长减缓的作用,而实验剂量的中药未表现出此样作用.     

The effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on the postnatal development of the rat.

The present studies report the effects on neonatal rats of oral exposure to genistein during the period from birth to postnatal day (PND) 21 to generate data for use in assessing human risk following oral ingestion of genistein. Failure to demonstrate significant exposure of the newborn pups via the mothers milk led us to subcutaneously inject genistein into the pups over the period PND 1-7, followed by daily gavage dosing to PND 21. The targeted doses throughout were 4 mg/kg/day genistein (equivalent to the average exposure of infants to total isoflavones in soy milk) and a dose 10 times higher than this (40 mg/kg genistein). The dose used during the injection phase of the experiment was based on plasma determinations of genistein and its major metabolites. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) at 10 micro g/kg was used as a positive control agent for assessment of changes in the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA). Administration of 40 mg/kg genistein increased uterus weights at day 22, advanced the mean day of vaginal opening, and induced permanent estrus in the developing female pups. Progesterone concentrations were also decreased in the mature females. There were no effects in females dosed with 4 mg/kg genistein, the predicted exposure level for infants drinking soy-based infant formulas. There were no consistent effects on male offspring at either dose level of genistein. Although genistein is estrogenic at 40 mg/kg/day, as illustrated by the effects described above, this dose does not have the same repercussions as DES in terms of the organizational effects on the SDN-POA.     

植物雌激素对去势雌性大鼠缺血性脑损伤的神经保护作用

目的对比研究植物雌激素和动物雌激素对去势雌性SD大鼠永久性局灶性脑缺血组织的神经保护作用。方法采用线栓法建立右侧永久性大脑中动脉阻断模型。缺血24h后立即断头取脑,冠状切片,HE染色后于光镜下观察缺血侧大脑皮层的病理变化,应用免疫组化法检测不同实验组大鼠缺血侧Cfos表达情况,以DNA缺口末端标记法原位检测细胞凋亡,通过TTC染色比较脑梗死体积百分比。结果动物雌激素(17β雌二醇)组及植物雌激素(葛根素)组与生理盐水组相比,光镜下正常神经细胞密度显著增加,缺血侧C-fos表达阳性的细胞数明显减少,凋亡细胞数显著减少,脑梗死体积百分比也明显缩小(P<0.05)。两种雌激素相比,上述4项指标差异均无显著性(P>0.05)。结论两种雌激素对缺血性脑损伤均有保护作用,可减弱大脑缺血梗死灶边缘区的Cfos表达,从而延缓神经细胞凋亡。这可能是雌激素脑保护作用的机制之一。     

Phytoestrogen‐Rich Natural Preparation for Treatment of Climacteric Syndrome and Atherosclerosis Prevention in Perimenopausal Women

The present study evaluated the risks and benefits of phytoestrogen treatment in healthy perimenopausal women in relation to the dynamics of climacteric syndrome and progression of atherosclerosis. Study participants were treated with placebo or phytoestrogen‐rich natural preparation Karinat based on grape (Vitis vinifera) seeds, green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, hop (Hunulus lupulus) cone powder and garlic (Allium sativum) powder. The dynamics of climacteric syndrome was evaluated by Kupperman Index and Utian Quality of Life Scale. Atherosclerosis progression was evaluated by measuring carotid intima‐media thickness. Significant changes of climacteric syndrome's severity in both Karinat and placebo groups (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001) were obtained after 24 months of follow‐up. Detailed analysis of Kupperman Index suggested that Karinat possessed a significant effect on nervousness (p = 0.010), weakness (p = 0.020) and formication (p = 0.010). A significant improvement of medical (p = 0.070) and emotional (p = 0.060) components of Kupperman Index and Utian Quality of Life Scale was also observed in Karinat group. However, difference in carotid intima‐media thickness between the two groups was not statistically significant at follow‐up. A slight positive effect of phytoestrogens on climacteric syndrome manifestations was demonstrated in this study. Karinat can be used for alleviation of climacteric syndrome and cardiovascular disease prevention in perimenopausal women. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

植物雌激素对雄性生殖功能的影响

目的　探讨植物雌激素对雄性生殖功能的影响及作用机理。方法　在实验组 (饮食中加入植物雌激素 )和正常对照组 (饮食中没有植物雌激素 ) ,喂养妊娠雌性大鼠 ,子一代雄性大鼠继续喂养同样饮食 ,雄性大鼠出生后 18天处死 ,观察大鼠体重、睾丸及附睾重量、测定血清中激素水平变化、生精细胞和Sertoli细胞数量、雌激素和雄激素受体表达及细胞凋亡情况。结果　在实验组 ,大鼠的体重和睾丸重量减轻、生精细胞和Sertoli细胞数量降低、血清中FSH浓度升高和雌激素受体不表达 ,血清中FSH浓度和Sertoli细胞数量呈明显负相关。结论　胎儿期和哺乳期暴露植物雌激素可影响雄性生长发育和生殖功能。     

Formononetin induces the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in prostate cancer cells via downregulation of the IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling pathway

Context: Formononetin, an isoflavone, can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, including those of the prostate. However, its antitumor mechanism remains unclear.

Aim: To investigate whether the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1?R) signaling pathway mediates the formononetin antitumor effect on prostate cancer cells.

Materials and methods: The viability of PC-3 cells was measured by MTT assay 48?h after formononetin treatment (25, 50 and 100?μM). Formononetin-induced cell apoptosis was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. Expression of Bax mRNA was detected by real-time PCR, and the expression levels of Bax and IGF-1?R proteins were detected by western blots.

Results: At concentrations >12.5?μM, formononetin significantly inhibited the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells. Formononetin increased Bax mRNA and protein expression levels and decreased the expression levels of pIGF-1?R protein in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion: High concentrations of formononetin-induced apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells through inhibition of the IGF-1/IGF-1?R pathway.     

薏苡仁水煎液雌激素样活性筛选研究

目的：对薏苡仁水煎液进行雌激素样活性筛选,探讨其作用机制。方法：首先通过小鼠子宫增重实验和人乳腺癌细胞（MCF-7）增殖实验对薏苡仁水煎液进行雌激素样活性筛选;以质粒pERE-TAL-luc、pβgal-Control、pCXN2-hERα或pCXN2-hERβ共转染的HEK293细胞株为模型,采用以ERE调控的报告基因luc瞬时表达检测技术,评价薏苡仁水煎液雌激素样作用的信号通路。结果：薏苡仁水煎液可显著的诱导性未成熟小鼠子宫系数的增加（P<0.01）,且在去雌激素的培养基中能够显著促进MCF-7细胞的增殖（P<0.01）; ERE调控的报告基因瞬时表达结果显示,分别由ERα和ERβ介导时,与正常组相比,薏苡仁水煎液的标准化荧光素酶活性明显升高（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：薏苡仁水煎液可诱导性未成熟小鼠子宫系数的增加,在去雌激素的培养基中诱导MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞的增殖,首次发现薏苡仁具有雌激素样作用,且主要是通过ERβ介导发挥雌激素样作用。     

Chemoprevention of breast cancer

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of malignancy-related death in women in the USA, regardless of advances in novel therapeutic agents. High priority should be given to research aimed at the study of pharmacological and natural compounds that could potentially prevent the development of breast cancer in susceptible patients. Tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the incidence of estrogen receptor-positive invasive breast cancer in women with a high risk of developing this condition by nearly 50%, and studies in osteoporosis have revealed a similar protective effect of raloxifene in postmenopausal women. The aromatase inhibitors are superior to tamoxifen in reducing the recurrence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; large clinical trials are currently evaluating the chemopreventive effect of these agents. The list of agents with the potential for chemoprevention in breast cancer is extensive and continues to expand. There is an immense need to develop drugs that will decrease the incidence of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer in women at high risk of developing the disease. Herein, we review the most important chemopreventive agents in breast cancer and clinical trials that have evaluated their efficacy.