Jaroenporn S, Urasopon N, Watanabe G, Malaivijitnond S. Improvements of vaginal atrophy without systemic side effects after topical application of Pueraria mirifica, a phytoestrogen-rich herb, in postmenopausal cynomolgus macaques.
J Reprod Dev 2014;
60:238-45. [PMID:
24748397 PMCID:
PMC4085389 DOI:
10.1262/jrd.2013-144]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The estrogenic efficacy of topical vaginal application of Pueraria mirifica extract (PM) on the restoration
of vaginal atrophy, and the presence of any systemic side effects, were investigated in postmenopausal cynomolgus macaques.
Twelve postmenopausal cynomolgus macaques, with complete cessation of menstruation for at least 5 years before start of this
experiment, were divided into three groups. They received a topical vaginal application daily of 0.1 or 1% (w/w) PM cream or
a conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) cream (a mixture of estrone, equilin, 17β-dihydroequilin, 17α-estradiol and
17α-dihydroequilin at 0.625 mg total estrogen/g cream) for 28 days. Estrogenic efficacy was assessed weekly by vaginal
cytology assay and vaginal pH measurement, whilst the plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex skin coloration levels were
determined at the end of each treatment period to evaluate the systemic side effects. PM significantly increased the
proportion of superficial cells in a dose-dependent manner, with a similar efficacy between 1% (w/w) PM and CEE. Together
with increased vaginal maturation, PM decreased the vaginal pH to acidic levels, as observed in the CEE group. PM induced no
detected systemic side effects, whilst CEE decreased the plasma LH level and increased the reddish color of the sex skin
during the posttreatment period. Topical vaginal treatment with PM stimulated the maturation of the vaginal epithelium
without causing systemic side effects in postmenopausal monkeys. The implication is that PM could be a safer alternative to
treat vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.
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