Poster Presenter

Synergistic Effect Of Six Estrogenic Compounds Isolated From Erxian Decoction For Relieving Menopausal Syndrome
Yao Tong, S.C.W. Sze, K.L. Wong, E.S.M. Chu and L.D. Zhong
Hong Kong

Menopause is the period during which estrogen secreted by the ovaries gradually declines and patients suffer from much higher incidences of body and mental changes, such as hot flashes and oesteoporsis. Menopause is normally treated by hormone replacement therapy. However, such treatment may increase incidence of different side effects, i.e. breast cancer and stroke. Therefore, scientists are seeking for safer and more effective alternatives.

Chinese Medicine is a well-known drug bank. There are many formulas used for relieving menopausal syndrome. Erxian Decoction (EXD) belongs to one of them, which has been extensively used in the clinical menopausal therapy for the last fifty years. Our recent publications and others' findings show that EXD has effectiveness in relieving menopausal syndrome via increasing the circulatory estrogen level. However, due to the complexity of its chemical constituents involved, it is hard to address its essence, explore its potential mechanisms and introduce it to the world.

The objective of this study is to 1) study the estrogenic effect of chemical constituents derived from EXD and 2) study their underlying synergistic mechanism.

Our recent findings suggested that EXD treatment would result in increased circulatory estrogen level via the activation of aromatase In vivo, which is a key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis. More interestingly, we found that its six corresponding estrogenic constituents and their combination could also increase the level of estrogen biosynthesis and aromatase synergistically in vitro. These six potential therapeutic constituents derived from EXD have a synergistic effect on estrogen biosynthesis through the synergistic activation of aromatase.

Results obtained from this study will advance current knowledge about the therapeutic mechanism for treating menopause, which provides useful insights to set up a strong rationale for enhancing the quality and efficacy of Chinese medicine, i.e. developing the pure active ingredients-based new drug. This approach is novel and could be used for many other effective drugs derived from existing Chinese medicine formula. It will establish better therapeutic strategies and open a new therapeutic window to relieve menopausal syndrome, which is highly innovative and unique with significant commercial potential.