1. Multiple biological effects of women’s health botanicals.
Multiple biological effects of women’s health botanicals. Women’s botanical dietary supplements are complex mixtures of bioactive compounds that interact with multiple pharmacological targets. Estrogenic botanicals that specifically target ERβ might decrease cell proliferation in addition to their effect on menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis. Serotonergic botanicals may reduce menopausal symptoms by targeting the serotonin receptor (5-HT receptors) or inhibiting serotonin reuptake. Women mainly use antimicrobial botanicals for remedying UTIs and antispasmodic drugs to remedy PMS symptoms. Chemopreventive botanicals target several biomolecules within four major pathways: (1) hormonal (ER, aromatase); (2) chemical (i.e., AhR, Keap1-Nrf2, ROS); (3) inflammatory (i.e., NF-κB, COX-2); and (4) epigenetic (i.e., HDACs, HMT, HATs). However, toxicity has been observed with botanicals that may increase overall cellular toxicity and interfere with activities of prescription medication. Green arrows indicate hypothesized beneficial biological effects.
Birgit M. Dietz et al. Pharmacol Rev 2016;68:
Copyright © 2016 by The Author(s)‏