Estrogen and Thyroid Hormone Receptor Activation by Medicinal Plants from Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Background: A number of medicinal plants are traditionally used for metabolic disorders in Bahia state, Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the estrogen receptor (ER) and thyroid receptor (TR) activation of crude extracts prepared from 20 plants. Methods: Species were extracted and assayed for receptor activation through both ER and TR gene-reporter assays, using 17β-estradiol and triiodothyronine (T3), respectively, as the positive controls. Results: Cajanus cajan (Fabaceae), Abarema cochliacarpus (Fabaceae), and Borreria verticillata (Rubiaceae) were able to activate ER as much as the positive control (17β-estradiol). These three plant species were also assayed for TR activation. At the concentration of 50 µg/mL, C. cajans exerted the highest positive modulation on TR, causing an activation of 59.9%, while B. verticillata and A. cochliacarpus caused 30.8% and 23.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Our results contribute towards the validation of the traditional use of C. cajans, B. verticillata, and A. cochliacarpus in the treatment of metabolic disorders related to ER and TR functions. The gene-reporter assay was proven effective in screening crude plant extracts for ER/TR activation, endorsing this methodology as an important tool for future bioprospection studies focused on identifying novel starting molecules for the development of estrogen and thyroid agonists.

Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth

“…A recent ethnobotanical study [ 25 ] conducted in Chapada do Araripe (Ceará, Brazil) identified C. heliotropiifolius as a species with multiple therapeutic indications, including the treatment of symptoms resulting from urinary, intestinal, and skin infections. Together, this evidence indicates that C. heliotropiifolius may have antimicrobial [ 26 ], antiparasitic [ 27 ], and antioxidant [ 21 ] activities. Thus, considering the therapeutic potential suggested by ethnobotanical studies, this work aimed to determine the chemical profile and experimentally investigate the antioxidant, antifungal, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic potential of an aqueous extract obtained from the roots of Croton heliotropiifolius .…”

“…This species is widely distributed in the Caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest biome located in Northeastern Brazil [ 20 ]. Ethnopharmacological studies have registered the use of this species for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s [ 21 ], flu, pain, inflammation, skin diseases [ 22 ], back pain [ 23 ], cough, stomach pain, menstrual disorders, anemia, blood disorders [ 19 ], and parasitic diseases [ 24 ].…”

Identificação e caracterização de mecanismos celulares e moleculares envolvidos na regulação da massa muscular esquelética durante o hipertireoidismo experimental.

“…Além disso, é possível observar a conservação da sinalização dos hormônios tireoidianos através da resposta cruzada entre os animais e vegetais. Nesse sentido, demonstrou-se que o extrato de algumas plantas é capaz de estimular o receptor de hormônio tireoidiano beta (RHTß) em humanos [11], e o aporte exógeno (através da alimentação) de MIT e DIT é suficiente para desencadear processo de metamorfose em larvas de animais [12,13].…”