Improvement of Menopausal Symptoms by Beta vulgaris, Artemisia princeps, and Eleutherococcus senticosus via Estrogen Pathway Activation in MCF‐7 Cells and OVX Mice

TL;DR

This study explores how three plant extracts can help manage menopausal symptoms by activating estrogen pathways, offering a safer alternative to hormone therapy.

Contribution

The study identifies Beta vulgaris and Artemisia princeps as robust phytoestrogen candidates through dual estrogen signaling activation.

Findings

Beta vulgaris and Artemisia princeps showed strong estrogenic activity in both cell and mouse models.

Eleutherococcus senticosus exhibited weaker and inconsistent estrogen signaling.

Beta vulgaris and Artemisia princeps improved uterine structure, bone preservation, and estrous cycling in OVX mice.

Abstract

Menopause, a natural transition marked by estrogen decline, is a growing public health concern because it impairs quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely employed to alleviate menopausal symptoms, including osteoporosis, uterine atrophy, vaginal dryness, fat redistribution, and increased cardiovascular risk, but use is limited by adverse effects including hormonal imbalance and increased cancer risk. As potential alternatives, plant‐derived phytoestrogens are actively investigated, yet validated candidate extracts remain scarce. Here we evaluated the estrogenic activity of three extracts—
Beta vulgaris
, Artemisia princeps, and
Eleutherococcus senticosus
—using ER‐positive MCF‐7 cells and an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. From an initial screen, three extracts induced estrogen‐mediated proliferation in ER‐positive MCF‐7 cells. In OVX mice, efficacy varied by phenotype:
B. vulgaris
and
A. princeps
produced more pronounced improvements, whereas
E. senticosus
was less effective on several endpoints. Mechanistically,
B. vulgaris
and
A. princeps
engaged both genomic and non‐genomic estrogen signaling, while
E. senticosus
showed inconsistent activation, suggesting a more limited or alternative mode of action. Overall, efficacy varied across extracts:
E. senticosus
had modest activity, whereas
B. vulgaris
and
A. princeps
produced robust, reproducible improvements, making them promising for plant‐based management of menopausal symptoms.

Plant extracts from
Beta vulgaris
(BK‐R) and Artemisia princeps (BK‐A) act as full estrogen‐mimetics, activating both ERα genomic and non‐genomic signaling in MCF‐7 cells and OVX mice. Across in vivo assays, BK‐R/BK‐A restored uterine structure, improved estrous cycling, preserved trabecular bone, and normalized serum E2/osteocalcin, approximating estradiol benzoate.
Eleutherococcus senticosus
(BK‐E) showed weaker, primarily genomic activity, suggesting tissue‐selective modulation and positioning BK‐R/BK‐A as promising phytoestrogen candidates for menopausal symptom management.

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