Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model
Background Existing treatments for primary dysmenorrhoea (PD), such as NSAIDs, impart side effects. Ge-Gen decoction (GGD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise in treating PD, but its exact mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficiency of GGD in alleviating PD...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/01443615.2024.2337691 |
| _version_ | 1826893671135444992 |
|---|---|
| author | Yazhen Xie Haifeng Xu Zhijuan Gu |
| author_facet | Yazhen Xie Haifeng Xu Zhijuan Gu |
| author_sort | Yazhen Xie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Existing treatments for primary dysmenorrhoea (PD), such as NSAIDs, impart side effects. Ge-Gen decoction (GGD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise in treating PD, but its exact mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficiency of GGD in alleviating PD using a rat model to understand its precise mechanism of action.Methods We established a rat model of dysmenorrhoea induced by oestradiol and oxytocin. The PD rats were administered GGD or Ibuprofen (positive control) intragastrically once daily for seven consecutive days. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α), β-endorphin (β-EP), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in uterine tissue were measured using immunohistochemical assays, and those of phosphorylated and total extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) were assessed using western blot analysis.Results Treatment with GGD significantly reduced writhing behaviour, histopathological scores, and levels of COX-2, PGE2, and PGF2α in the serum of PD rats. Additionally, GGD increased β-EP content and inhibited ERK1/2 activation and ERα expression in uterine tissues.Conclusions The results of this study suggest that GGD alleviates PD in rats by suppressing the COX-2-mediated release of PGE2 and PGF2α, modulating the ERα/ERK1/2/COX-2 pathway, and increasing β-EP content. These results provide insights into the potential mechanisms of GGD in treating PD and support its further investigation as an alternative therapy for this condition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:36:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd9ea060b7a24aa2ab1f70bac061ab46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0144-3615 1364-6893 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T04:57:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd9ea060b7a24aa2ab1f70bac061ab462025-01-09T12:13:17ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology0144-36151364-68932024-12-0144110.1080/01443615.2024.2337691Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat modelYazhen Xie0Haifeng Xu1Zhijuan Gu2Department of Gynaecology, Taicang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taicang, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Taicang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taicang, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Gynaecology, Taicang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taicang, Jiangsu, ChinaBackground Existing treatments for primary dysmenorrhoea (PD), such as NSAIDs, impart side effects. Ge-Gen decoction (GGD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise in treating PD, but its exact mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficiency of GGD in alleviating PD using a rat model to understand its precise mechanism of action.Methods We established a rat model of dysmenorrhoea induced by oestradiol and oxytocin. The PD rats were administered GGD or Ibuprofen (positive control) intragastrically once daily for seven consecutive days. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α), β-endorphin (β-EP), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in uterine tissue were measured using immunohistochemical assays, and those of phosphorylated and total extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) were assessed using western blot analysis.Results Treatment with GGD significantly reduced writhing behaviour, histopathological scores, and levels of COX-2, PGE2, and PGF2α in the serum of PD rats. Additionally, GGD increased β-EP content and inhibited ERK1/2 activation and ERα expression in uterine tissues.Conclusions The results of this study suggest that GGD alleviates PD in rats by suppressing the COX-2-mediated release of PGE2 and PGF2α, modulating the ERα/ERK1/2/COX-2 pathway, and increasing β-EP content. These results provide insights into the potential mechanisms of GGD in treating PD and support its further investigation as an alternative therapy for this condition.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/01443615.2024.2337691Primary dysmenorrhoeaGe-Gen decoctionoestrogen receptors alphamitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2cyclooxygenase-2 |
| spellingShingle | Yazhen Xie Haifeng Xu Zhijuan Gu Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Primary dysmenorrhoea Ge-Gen decoction oestrogen receptors alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 cyclooxygenase-2 |
| title | Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model |
| title_full | Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model |
| title_fullStr | Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model |
| title_short | Ge-gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model |
| title_sort | ge gen decoction alleviates primary dysmenorrhoea symptoms in a rat model |
| topic | Primary dysmenorrhoea Ge-Gen decoction oestrogen receptors alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 cyclooxygenase-2 |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/01443615.2024.2337691 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yazhenxie gegendecoctionalleviatesprimarydysmenorrhoeasymptomsinaratmodel AT haifengxu gegendecoctionalleviatesprimarydysmenorrhoeasymptomsinaratmodel AT zhijuangu gegendecoctionalleviatesprimarydysmenorrhoeasymptomsinaratmodel |