ANTIESTROGENIC AND ANTIANDROGENIC ACTIVITIES OF A HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF PENTADESMA BUTYRACEA (CLUSIACEAE)

Menopausal symptoms and hormone-related diseases such as breast and prostate cancers are serious problems of public health. The management of these diseases is extremely expensive for populations in developing countries with low outcomes. As alternative, medicinal plants are the most used for healthcare in these countries. Therefore, several preclinical studies are performed to screen phytoestrogens and phytoandrogens which can exhibit health benefits for management of these symptoms and hormone-related diseases. Pentadesma butyracea is a West African rainforest species used traditionally for management of reproductive disorders and treatment of breast pain. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess hormone-like activities of a hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of P. butyracea by in vitro and in vivo assays. Yeast estrogen/androgen screen were performed to evaluate (anti)estrogenic and (anti)androgenic activities of the extract. For the in vivo assay, Hershberger bioassay was performed in immature male Wistar rats. The weight of accessory glands was used for the evaluation of (anti)androgenic activities. Immature uterotrophic bioassay was used as in vivo assay for detection of possible (anti)estrogenic activities based on uterine, ovarian and adrenal weight. In the yeast estrogen/androgen screen, the extract exhibited antiestrogenic and antiandrogenic activities. In vivo assays confirmed that the extract exhibited antiandrogenic (p < 0.05) activity but did not have antiestrogenic activity. Overall, the extract did not exhibit estrogenic and androgenic properties, but showed antiestrogenic activity in vitro and antiandrogenic activities both in vitro and in vivo. These findings showed the extract can antagonized estrogenic activity and could act Selective Androgen Regulator Modulators. Therefore, it can have a great potential of application for regulation of sex hormone target tissues including management of hormone-related diseases. Nevertheless, subsequent studies are necessary to assess its safety in terms of breast and prostate cancer.