The present disclosure describes a study of estrogenic activity present in various
plant species, selectively inducing some but not all estrogenic responses in the
uterus. Prepubertal female rats were treated sequentially with various extracts or decoctions of different
plant species or its vehicle, followed 1 h later by treatment with estradiol-17β (E) or its
solvent. Uteri were excised under
anesthesia and histologically processed for
eosinophil quantification and morphometric evaluation of various uterine responses to
estrogen, at 6 or 24 h after
hormone or vehicle treatment. Besides extracts or decoctions, pure
phytoestrogens were also used. Additionally, human mammary
cancer cells MCF-7 or MDAMB-231 were cultured in presence of the extract (or decoction), E, both or
solvent and
cell proliferation was evaluated. Various extracts or decoction displayed selective estrogenic and / or antiestrogenic action for some but not all parameters of
estrogen stimulation in the
uterus and inhibited growth of human
mammary cells in culture or antagonized the
estrogen-induced increase in their growth. Present results reveal, for the first time, a dissociation of responses to estrogen by
phytoestrogens, suggesting its possible therapeutic application as
estrogenic compounds not inducing
cell proliferation and reveal the anticancerous effect of some of the extracts with possible therapeutic relevance. The dissociation of responses to estrogen additionally suggest therapeutic applications in estrogen-related diseases (for instance, premenstrual syndrome,
endometriosis, etc.); the inhibition of
eosinophil degranulation suggest an application in diseases related to eosinophils (hypereosinophilic syndrome, allergic and
hypersensitivity diseases).