ABSTRACT
The vasomotor symptoms of menopause, which include hot flashes, sweating, physical and psychological discomfort, and emotional changes, are real and experienced by a large portion of the menopausal and postmenopausal female population. In addition, it causes osteoporosis and slowed metabolism, both of which raise the chance of developing a number of different ailments. Given that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been linked to an increased cancer risk, this investigation was undertaken to identify viable alternatives.
The study aimed to investigate the ameliorating effect of Soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract on some markers of inflammation, antioxidants and lipid status of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced menopause in areflbino rats. Thirty (30) female albino Wistar rats were employed in the investigation, and each one was induced with 80mg/kg of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide before being treated with either normal estradiol therapy (14ug/kg) or varying concentrations of the soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg). Reproductive hormones (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen (E2), anti mullerian hormone (AMH), progesterone, testosterone) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) and vitamin D were measured by ELISA methods. Serum levels of calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), vitamin E, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, antioxidant status, liver enzymes, and protein levels were all measured spectrophotometrically. Statistical software SPSS (IBM) version 23.0 was used to analyze the data.
Serum E2 and progesterone levels were observed to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in the soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract treatment group compared to the positive control group. There was non-significant difference (p>0.05) observed in use of standard estrogen therapy compared to phytoestrogen isoflavones. Calcium and phosphate levels rose in a dose-dependent manner (p>0.05), although only phosphate at 600mg/kg of phytoestrogen isoflavone treatment group compared to positive group was substantially higher (p<0.05). Treatment with soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract resulted in dose-dependent improvements in the lipid profile and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the positive control group. Compared to the positive control group, the soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract therapy group saw a dose-dependent reduction in CRP and IL-6 levels (p<0.05) but not in TNF-α (P>0.05). Compared to the positive control group, the measured antioxidant levels of the soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract treatment group increased significantly (p<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Liver enzyme activities (ALT, AST, and ALP) decreased dose-dependently, while protein levels (albumin and total protein) rose dose-dependently and were statistically significant (p<0.01). Data from this research clearly demonstrate the anti-inflammatory, increased anti-oxidants, lipid-lowering, hepatoprotective, and bone-remodeling effects of a soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract therapy in menopause-induced female Wistar rats. Soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract therapy in a high-dose appears to be more effective compared to hormone replacement therapy as an alternate source of estrogen.
