Effect of aqueous extract of physalis alkekengi fruits on the activity of ovarian 3beta- and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in late pregnancy in rat

Aqueous extract of winter cherry [Physalis alkekengi L; family of Solanaceae] fruits [WCF] has long been recommended for fertility control by herbalists in Iran. The effect of this extract on lowering serum progesterone levels has been reported previously. To study the effects of WCF extract on the activities of ovarian 3 [3-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase [3beta-HSD] responsible for the synthesis of progesterone and 20 alpha-HSD responsible for its degradation in rats. One ml aliquots of the aqueous extract of WCF [containing 400 mg of dried extract] were intraperitoneally injected for 8 consecutive days to rats from day 8 of pregnancy. Rats were then sacrificed 21 days and 11 hours after the day of observing sperm positive vaginal smears. Blood was collected for the determination of serum progesterone and the total and the live numbers of embryos were counted. Ovaries were also used for the measurement of the activities of 3beta- and 20 alpha -HSD. The extract of WCF decreased the ovarian 3beta-HSD specific activity by 47%, serum progesterone concentration by 30% and the number of live embryos by 67%, but it had no effect on the specific activity of ovarian 20alpha-HSD. The aqueous extract of WCF, containing steroidal compounds with known estrogen antagonistic properties, probably interferes with the function of estradiol in inducing ovarian 3beta-HSD synthesis. It may also contain components which inhibit this enzyme, thus reducing progesterone synthesis that is required for maintaining pregnancy. Such natural compounds, if purified, might be beneficial for control of fertility

Estradiol antagonistic effects of winter cherry extract on pituitary and hypothalamic GOPD activities

Intraperitoneal administration of an aqueous extract of winter cherry fruits [Physalis alkekengi] to adult cycling female rats diminished pituitary glucose 6-P dehydrogenase [G6PD] activity by 35% and that of the basomedial hypothalamus [BMH] by 23%. Daily doses of 1.88, 3.75, 7.5, and 15 micro g beta-estradiol administered to such animals for a period of 6-9 days increased pituitary G6PD activity by 16,30,60, and 94% and that of BMH by 14,19,30, and 52%, respectively. Combined administration of a given dose of the aqueous extract along with the above doses of beta-estradiol for 8-9 days reduced G6PD inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract on both the pituitary and BMH. In this manner the pituitary enzyme was inhibited by 14% [1.88 micro g beta-estradiol], 7% [3.75 micro g estradiol] and activated by 37% [7.5 micro g estradiol] and 62% [15 micro g estradiol]. Corresponding values for the hypothalamic enzyme were inhibitions of 21% [1.88 micro g estradiol], 18% [3.75 micro g estradiol], 7% [7.5 micro g estradiol] and activation of 2% [15 micro g estradiol]. The estrogen antagonistic effect of this aqueous extract on the brain is discussed in terms of its possible action on the inhibition of the hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone and the pituitary luteinizing hormone release, thus affecting ovulation and pregnancy

Decreased androgen receptor-ligand affinity in hepatocellular carcinomas

Human liver tissues from normal, cirrhotic and hepatocellular carcinomas [HCC] were analyzed by Scatchard plots for cytosolic androgen binding capacities using methyltrienolone. The ranges and the means of the cytosolic androgen binding capacities for the normal tissue [and the normal surroundings], the cirrhotic tissue, and the HCC's in fmoles per mg protein were 3.7-47.9 [mean +/- SEM = 23.7 +/- 7.9], 3.0 - 17.3 [mean +/- SEM = 7.9 +/- 4.7] and 2.8 -14.6 [mean + SEM= 6.8 +/- 2.7], respectively. The ranges and the means of the dissociation constants [Kd] in M X 10[10] for the normal, cirrhotic and the HCC tissues were 5.7-16.0 [mean +/- SEM = 8.8 +/- 1.8], 6.7- 68.5 [mean +/- SEM = 30.1 +/- 19.3] and 35.6 - 60.0 [mean + SEM = 47.8 +/- 5.4], respectively. A significant decrease in cytosolic androgen binding capacity and a highly significant increase [P<0.001] in Kd value [or a decrease in the affinity] of the HCC androgen receptors, as compared to normal tissues, could possibly be explained by a decrease in the level of phosphorylation of the receptor as a result of a defect in the metabolic regulation of the cancerous tissues

Enzyme levels in the sera and erythrocytes of patients with visceral leishmaniasis

Twenty five blood samples from 6-month to 5-year old children with visceral leishmaniasis were analyzed for various enzymes. Aspartate transminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT], lactate dehydrogenase [LD] and its various isoenzymes were estimated in the serum, while glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] was measured in red blood cells. For comparison, blood samples from healthy children of the same age group [controls] were analyzed in similar manner. Significantly higher values were obtained for the activities and the specific activities of AST, ALT and total LD in the patients. The activity and the percentage of LD-5 isoenzyme of the kala-azar patients were also significantly higher than the controls, while the percentage of LD-1 isoenzyme was significantly decreased. Hematocrit levels and G6PD activities of the visceral leishmaniasis patients were also significantly diminished