ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to investigate the estrogenic effects ofCoicis Semen in order to preliminarily discuss the mechanism. Mouse uterine weight test and MCF-7 cell proliferation assay were used to evaluate the estrogenic effects ofC. Semen. Reporter gene assays were adopted to explore the action mechanism ofC. Semen. In reporter gene assay, HEK293 cells were co-transfected with pERE-TAL-luc, pβgal-Control, pCXN2-hERα, or pCXN2-hERβ. And the expression of reporter gene luc was controlled by ERE. Mouse uterine weight test showed that compared with the control group, the aqueous extracts ofC. Semen can increase the uterus index of premature female mice (P<0.01). It can significantly promote the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in the medium without estrogen (P<0.01). The reporter gene controlled by ERE technology showed thatwhen mediated by ERα or ERβ respectively, the normalized luciferase activity of aqueous extracts ofC. Semen was significantly higher than activity of the control group (P< 0.05 orP< 0.01). It was concluded that the aqueous extracts ofC.Semen can increase the uterus index of premature female mice and promote the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in the medium without estrogen. We found the estrogenic effects ofC. Semen for the first time. And the estrogenic effects ofC. Semen were mainly mediated by ERβ.