Assessment of the Aromatase Inhibitory Activity of Ma-Huang-Tang (MHT) and Its Active Compounds

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2020 Jan 14

PMID 31929813

Authors

Dong Ho Jung

Joo Tae Hwang

Bo-Jeong Pyun

Song Yi Yu

Byoung Seob Ko

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aromatase, a cytochrome P450 enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens, is an important drug target for hormone-dependent diseases. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the aromatase inhibitory effects of Ma-Huang-Tang (MHT), a traditional Korean herbal medicine prescription, and to identify its active ingredients. In this study, the inhibitory effect of MHT on aromatase activity was observed using dibenzylfluorescein (DBF) and KGN cells, and the dose-dependent effect of MHT was verified (IC values of 251 g/mL and 246 g/mL as determined by the two methods, respectively). Furthermore, among the six herbal medicines that constitute MHT, , , and showed the most potent inhibition of aromatase activity. Furthermore, upon identification of the active MHT compounds, three markers from , liquiritin (5), liquiritin apioside (6), and liquiritigenin (7), were verified (IC values of 530 M, 508 M, and 1.611 mM and 499 M, 522 M, and 1.41 mM as determined by the two methods, respectively). In addition, their contents were confirmed to be 15.58, 19.80, and 2.22 mg/g, respectively, by HPLC/DAD analysis. These results indicate that the aromatase inhibitory effect of MHT results from the synergistic action of its active components and that MHT has potential as a preventive agent against aromatase activity.

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