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http://dx.doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2012.20.2.189

Peripubertal Administration of Icariin and Icaritin Advances Pubertal Development in Female Rats  

Kang, Hyun-Ku (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University)
Lee, Sang-Bum (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University)
Kwon, Hyo-Suk (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University)
Sung, Chung-Ki (College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University)
Park, Young-In (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University)
Dong, Mi-Sook (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University)
Publication Information
Biomolecules & Therapeutics / v.20, no.2, 2012 , pp. 189-195 More about this Journal
Abstract
Epimedii Herba is a traditional medicinal herb used in Korea and China and exerts estrogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of peripubertal administration of Epimedii Herba on pubertal development in female rats using a modified protocol of the rodent 20-day pubertal female assay. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (21 days old after weaning, 10 rats per group) were divided into five groups: saline (Con), ethinyl estradiol (E2), Epimedii Herba ext (Ext), icariin (ICI), and icaritin (ICT), which were administered by oral gavage (E2 by subcutaneous injection) from postnatal day (PND) 21 through PND40. The time to vaginal opening (VO) was shorter for the Epimedii groups, particularly for the ICT group (p<0.05). Treatment with ICI and ICT significantly increased the duration of the estrus cycle (ICI, 2.78 days; ICT, 4.0 days; control, 1.78 days). Ovary weight was reduced by E2 treatment and increased by the Ext, ICI, and ICT treatments while the weight of the uterus and pituitary glands increased significantly only in the E2 and ICT groups. Although Epimedii Herba displayed relatively weak estrogenic activity, its repeated administration could affect pubertal development in female rats.
Keywords
Epimedii Herba; Icariin; Icaritin; Female pubertal development;
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