Estrogen activities and the cellular effects of natural progesterone from wild yam extract in mcf-7 human breast cancer cells

Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(1):159-67. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X09006746.

Abstract

We studied the estrogenic activity and cellular effect of wild yam extract in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The extract increased the activity of the progesterone receptor and pS2 genes at the mRNA levels in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, although the effects were not as prominent as those of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)). Western blot analysis showed that the level of estrogen receptor alpha protein was down-regulated after treatment with E(2) or wild yam extract. Wild yam extract also inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells. These data indicate that wild yam extract acts as a weak phytoestrogen and protects against proliferation in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Dioscorea*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estradiol / therapeutic use
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Phytoestrogens / pharmacology
  • Phytoestrogens / therapeutic use*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Presenilin-2 / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism*

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • PSEN2 protein, human
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Plant Extracts
  • Presenilin-2
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Estradiol