Affiliation:
1. Department of Food Science and Biotechnology Kyung Hee University Yongin 17104 Republic of Korea
2. Department of Food and Nutrition Hanyang University Seoul 04763 Republic of Korea
3. Antimicrobial Materials Lab. Dynesoze Co., Ltd., R&D Center Yongin 16827 Republic of Korea
4. Department of Food and Nutrition Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
Abstract
ScopeThe decline in estrogen during menopause contributes to a variety of menopausal symptoms, for which hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been extensively applied. Regarding side effects and limited effectiveness of HRT for specific individuals, there is a growing interest in safe alternatives such as phytoestrogens which are structurally analogous to estrogens. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of yam and gromwell extracts, rich in bioactive compounds, and the synergistic effect of extracts on symptoms induced by estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized (OVX) mice.Methods and resultsOVX mice receive dietary intervention of either yam, gromwell extract, or their mixture for 14 weeks. Sham‐operated mice and E2‐injected OVX mice serve as positive controls. Following 14 weeks of oral administration, blood, adipose tissue, vagina, uterus, femurs, and tibias are harvested for further investigation. Consequently, yam and gromwell extracts ameliorate menopausal conditions such as weight gain, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and osteoporosis in estrogen‐deficient OVX mice. In addition, the mixture of yam and gromwell extracts synergistically aids in the relief of the indications.ConclusionThese results indicate the potential use of yam and gromwell extracts, as well as their mixture, for the development of healthy functional foods to modulate menopausal symptoms.
Funder
National Research Foundation of Korea