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. 2017:2017:2564787.
doi: 10.1155/2017/2564787. Epub 2017 May 11.

Schisandrae Fructus Reduces Symptoms of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide-Induced Ovarian Failure in Mice

Dasom Shin  1 , Jinhee Ha  1 , Seong Bin Hong  2 , Geun-Hyung Kang  1 , Deok-Sang Hwang  3 , Hyunsu Bae  1
Affiliations

Schisandrae Fructus Reduces Symptoms of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide-Induced Ovarian Failure in Mice

Dasom Shin et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017.

Abstract

Menopause is associated with a decrease in the level of sex hormones such as ovarian estradiol and progesterone and can cause various symptoms such as depression, hot flash, fatigue, heart palpitations, and headache. Furthermore, there is a risk of developing complications such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and ovarian cancer. Schisandrae Fructus (SF) is widely used in Korean medicine as a cure for such complications. This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of SF against menopause symptoms associated with follicle depletion caused by the industrial chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) in mice. VCD directly targets the preantral follicles. Mice were injected with VCD (160 mg/kg intraperitoneally) daily for 15 days and then with SF dosage 3 times/week for six weeks. To evaluate the effects of SF, body weight, tail skin temperature, uterine weight, lipid profile, and osteocalcin levels were measured. A decrease in body weight and tail skin temperature and an increase in uterine weight were observed upon SF treatment. Moreover, SF treatment significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglyceride, osteocalcin, and low-density lipoprotein levels and low-density/high-density lipoprotein ratio. These results suggest the potential use of SF in the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The structure of Schizandrin, Gomisin A, and Gomisin N (a), UV spectrum of Schizandrin, Gomisin A, and Gomisin N (b), and chromatogram of SF (c) using HPLC systems.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of SF on changes in lipid profile. On day 65, serum was collected from all groups. (a) Total cholesterol, (b) triglyceride, (c) LDL, (d) HDL, and (e) LDL/HDL. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. p values are obtained using one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) by comparing the treatment group with VCD + Vehicle group. ∗p < 0.05 compared with the CON group; ##p < 0.01 and #p < 0.05 compared with the VCD + Vehicle group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time course of changes in body weight of mice. The body weight of mice was measured for 9 weeks. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Differences between treatments were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis. ∗p < 0.05 compared with the CON group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of SF on changes in uterine weight. Uterine weight was measured at the end of the 9-week treatment period. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. p values are obtained using one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) by comparing the treatment group with VCD + Vehicle mice group. ∗∗∗p < 0.001 compared with the CON group; #p < 0.05 compared with the VCD + Vehicle group.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of SF on changes in osteocalcin levels. On day 65, serum samples were collected from all groups. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. p values are obtained using one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) by comparing the treatment group with VCD + Vehicle mice. ∗∗p < 0.01 compared with the CON group; ###p < 0.001 and #p < 0.05 compared with the VCD + Vehicle group.
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