ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the biological activities of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (Acanthaceae), an herbal medicine used in Costa Rica (CR) for the management of menopausal symptoms and dysmenorrhea. STUDY DESIGN: The aerial parts of J. pectoralis were collected, dried and extracted in methanol. To establish possible mechanisms of action of JP for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, the estrogenic and progesterone agonists, and antiinflammatory activities were investigated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The methanol extract (JP-M) was tested in ER and PR binding assays, a COX-2 enzyme inhibition assay, the ERbeta-CALUX assay in U2-OS cells, as well as reporter and endogenous gene assays in MCF-7 K1 cells. RESULTS: The JP-M extract inhibited COX-2 catalytic activity (IC(50) 4.8 microg/mL); bound to both ERalpha and ERbeta (IC(50) 50 microg/mL and 23.1 microg/mL, respectively); induced estrogen-dependent transcription in the ERbeta-CALUX; and bound to the progesterone receptor (IC(50) 22.8 microg/mL). The extract also modulated the expression of endogenous estrogen responsive genes pS2, PR, and PTGES in MCF-7 cells at a concentration of 20 microg/mL. Activation of a 2 ERE-construct in transiently transfected MCF-7 cells by the extract was inhibited by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, indicating that the effects were mediated through the estrogen receptor. Finally, the extract weakly enhanced the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, however this was not statistically significant as compared with DMSO controls. CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of J. pectoralis have estrogenic, progestagenic and anti-inflammatory effects, and thus have a plausible mechanism of action, explaining its traditional use for menopause and PMS.
Subject(s)
Acanthaceae , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Menopause/drug effects , Phytoestrogens/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Premenstrual Syndrome/drug therapy , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Line, Tumor , Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Dysmenorrhea/drug therapy , Estradiol/genetics , Estradiol/metabolism , Female , Gene Expression/drug effects , Genes , Genes, Reporter , Herbal Medicine , Humans , Phytoestrogens/therapeutic use , Phytotherapy , Plant Components, Aerial , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Progestins/pharmacology , Progestins/therapeutic use , Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism , Receptors, Progesterone/metabolismABSTRACT
The Cyperaceae of La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. The family Cyperaceae is cosmopolitan and includes some 115 genera and 3600 species. Costa Rica has 25 genera and 210 species. Here I present keys and descriptions for 34 species (10 genera) that occur in La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. The genus Cyperus is represented by 12 species, followed by Rhynchospora (6), Scleria (5), Calyptocarya (2), Eleocharis (2), Kyllinga (2), Mapania (2), Hypolytrum (1) and Lipocarpha (1). Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp & Kunth) Palla, has been collected in the vicinity and could eventually be found at the Station. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (Suppl. 1): 93-110. Epub 2009 November 30.
La familia Cyperaceae es cosmopolita e incluye unos 115 géneros y 3600 especies. Costa Rica tiene 25 géneros y 210 especies. Aquí presento claves y descripciones para las 34 especies (10 géneros) que ocurren en la Estación Biológica La Selva, Costa Rica. El género Cyperus está representado por 12 especies, seguido por Rhynchospora (6), Scleria (5), Calyptocarya (2), Eleocharis (2), Kyllinga (2), Mapania (2), Hypolytrum (1) y Lipocarpha (1). Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp & Kunth) Palla, ha sido colectada en los alrededores y eventualmente podría ser encontrada en la Estación.
Subject(s)
Classification , Magnoliopsida , Cyperaceae/classification , Cyperus , Costa RicaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Outcomes from the Women's Health Initiative have demonstrated adverse effects associated with hormone therapy and have prioritized the need to develop new alternative treatments for the management of menopause and osteoporosis. To this end, we have been investigating natural herbal medicines used by Costa Rican women to manage menopausal symptoms. METHODS: Seventeen plant species were collected and extracted in Costa Rica. To establish possible mechanisms of action and to determine their potential future use for menopause or osteoporosis, we investigated the estrogenic activities of the herbal extracts in an estrogen-reporter gene estrogen receptor (ER) beta-Chemically Activated Luciferase Expression assay in U2-OS cells and in reporter and endogenous gene assays in MCF-7 cells. RESULTS: Six of the plant extracts bound to the ERs. Four of the six extracts stimulated reporter gene expression in the ER-beta-Chemically Activated Luciferase Expression assay. All six extracts modulated expression of endogenous genes in MCF-7 cells, with four extracts acting as estrogen agonists and two extracts, Pimenta dioica and Smilax domingensis, acting as partial agonist/antagonists by enhancing estradiol-stimulated pS2 mRNA expression but reducing estradiol-stimulated PR and PTGES mRNA expression. Both P. dioica and S. domingensis induced a 2ERE-luciferase reporter gene in transient transfected MCF-7 cells, which was inhibited by the ER antagonist ICI 182,780. CONCLUSIONS: This work presents a plausible mechanism of action for many of the herbal medicines used by Costa Rican women to treat menopausal symptoms. However, it further suggests that studies of safety and efficacy are needed before these herbs should be used as alternative therapies to hormone therapy.
Subject(s)
Menopause/drug effects , Phytoestrogens/administration & dosage , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Binding, Competitive , Breast Neoplasms , Cell Line, Tumor , Costa Rica , Estradiol/analogs & derivatives , Estradiol/pharmacology , Estrogen Receptor alpha/antagonists & inhibitors , Estrogen Receptor alpha/genetics , Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism , Estrogen Receptor beta/antagonists & inhibitors , Estrogen Receptor beta/genetics , Estrogen Receptor beta/metabolism , Female , Fulvestrant , Gene Expression/drug effects , Genes, Reporter/genetics , Humans , Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/genetics , Luciferases/genetics , Phytoestrogens/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/metabolism , Prostaglandin-E Synthases , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Receptors, Progesterone/genetics , Transfection , Trefoil Factor-1 , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
The composition of the essential oil from leaves of Siparuna thecaphora (Poepp. et Endl.) A. DC. collected in Turrialba, Costa Rica, was determined by capillary GC/MS. Seventy-six compounds were identified corresponding to ca. 95 percent of the oil. The major components were germacrene D (32.7 percent), alpha-pinene (16.3 percent), beta-pinene (13.8 percent) and beta-caryophyllene (4.1 percent). Thirty-one minor compounds were identified for the first time in this genus of plants
Subject(s)
Oils, Volatile , Plant Oils , Costa Rica , Plant LeavesABSTRACT
The composition of the essential oil from leaves of Siparuna thecaphora (Poepp. et Endl.) A. DC. collected in Turrialba, Costa Rica, was determined by capillary GC/MS. Seventy-six compounds were identified corresponding to ca. 95% of the oil. The major components were germacrene D (32.7%), alpha-pinene (16.3%), beta-pinene (13.8%) and beta-caryophyllene (4.1%). Thirty-one minor compounds were identified for the first time in this genus of plants.
