Polygonum hydropiper crude root extract mimics estrogenic properties in females: Evidence of uterine protein profiles studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Polygonum hydropiper is a widely grown weed in the north-eastern states of India. In the present study, estrogenic effects of the crude root extract (CRE) of Polygonum hydropiper on uterine protein was tested in ovary-intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female albino rats. The methanolic crude extract of Polygonum hydropiper was given to adult ovary-intact and OVX female albino rat in a dose of 1000 mg/kg bodyweight per day. Oral administration of the CRE was carried out for a period of 12 days from the onset of proestrus and for a similar period of time for the OVX female. To study the estrogenic effect, OVX females were subcutaneously injected with 0.1 µg of estradiol-17β (E2). E2 was injected at the interval of 24 h for a total period of 72 h. The uterine protein of ovary-intact and OVX females was studied by single dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed similar protein bands in OVX females treated with E2 and CRE. In addition, treatment with CRE stimulated expression of more proteins in the uterus. The results showed that CRE of Polygonum hydropiper mimics the effect of estradiol-17β in the uterine protein profiles of adult female albino rats. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5: 155-160).