Ethanolic extract of Salvia officinalis alter vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression and its receptors in the mouse endometrium at preimplantation

Abstract Salvia officinalis contains steroid and isoflavonoid coumestrol, daidzein, and genistein which are considered as phytoestrogens. Isoflavones are alternatives to hormone replacement treatment. No studies have been conducted on the effect of S. officinalis extraction on endometrial angiogenesis yet. The adult female mice in the test group received an ethanolic extract of the S. officinalis (100 mg/kg) once a day for 14 days then pseudopregnancy was induced. Uterine horns were removed for molecular and histological assessment in each group. Motic image software was used to assess the quantitative vascular parameters, and real-time PCR was done to determine vascular gene expression in the endometrium. Data analysis on gene expression showed a decrease in rate of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression (1.559). VEGF receptor gene expression is accompanied by an increase in the rate of kinase insert domain protein receptor (KDR) gene expression (2.504) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1) gene expression (0.606). Although there was no significant difference in vascular density between control and test groups, a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was evident in the intravascular area between control and test groups at preimplantation time. It is concluded that S. officinalis may affect on implantation media because decidual angiogenesis has a main role in the maintenance of pregnancy at implantation tim...
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research