Yoon Jeong Hee, Ha Ji Eun, Kwon Joon Yeong
Department of Aquatic Life and Medical Science, Sunmoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea.
Molecules. 2025 Jun 27;30(13):2781. doi: 10.3390/molecules30132781.
Estrogen plays some important roles in many physiological processes in animals. This hormone is used as a type of medication for humans and animals, including fish, but is associated with serious side effects and environmental persistence, which has led to a growing interest in phytoestrogens as an alternative. Phytoestrogens are compounds derived from plants that are structurally similar to estrogen and may exhibit similar behavior in the body. To date, no studies have investigated the activity of phytoestrogens in relation to the maturation of eels. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ten different plant extracts on vitellogenin () and estrogen receptor (, ) gene expression in eel hepatocytes. As a result, Schisandra and Astragalus extracts induced higher levels of mRNA expression compared to the other extracts. However, increased mRNA expression was observed only in the Schisandra and soybean extract-treated groups. The phytoestrogens known to be present in Schisandra and Astragalus were analyzed using HPLC. Schizandrin, gomisin A, and gomisin N were detected in Schisandra extract, and calycosin and formononetin were detected in Astragalus extract. We then examined whether these phytoestrogens could induce mRNA expression in eel hepatocytes. As a result, gomisin N and formononetin significantly induced mRNA expression. In conclusion, among the 10 plant extracts treated in this study, Schisandra and Astragalus extracts induced estrogenic activity in eel hepatocytes. These extracts were found to contain phytoestrogens, with gomisin N and formononetin identified as the primary active components responsible for the observed estrogenic activity in eel hepatocytes.
雌激素在动物的许多生理过程中发挥着重要作用。这种激素被用作人类和动物（包括鱼类）的一种药物，但它会带来严重的副作用且在环境中持久存在，这使得人们对植物雌激素作为替代品的兴趣日益浓厚。植物雌激素是源自植物的化合物，其结构与雌激素相似，在体内可能表现出类似的行为。迄今为止，尚无研究调查植物雌激素与鳗鱼成熟相关的活性。在本研究中，我们调查了十种不同植物提取物对鳗鱼肝细胞中卵黄蛋白原（）和雌激素受体（，）基因表达的影响。结果，五味子和黄芪提取物诱导的 mRNA 表达水平高于其他提取物。然而，仅在五味子和大豆提取物处理组中观察到 mRNA 表达增加。使用高效液相色谱法分析了已知存在于五味子和黄芪中的植物雌激素。在五味子提取物中检测到五味子醇甲、戈米辛 A 和戈米辛 N，在黄芪提取物中检测到毛蕊异黄酮和芒柄花素。然后我们检查了这些植物雌激素是否能诱导鳗鱼肝细胞中 mRNA 的表达。结果，戈米辛 N 和芒柄花素显著诱导了 mRNA 的表达。总之，在本研究中处理的 10 种植物提取物中，五味子和黄芪提取物在鳗鱼肝细胞中诱导了雌激素活性。发现这些提取物含有植物雌激素，其中戈米辛 N 和芒柄花素被确定为导致在鳗鱼肝细胞中观察到的雌激素活性的主要活性成分。
