Effect of Epilobium angustifolium and Serenoa repens extracts on regulation of non-genomic signaling pathway of kinases

Abstract

Objectives: Changes of kinase activity of non-genomic cellular signaling pathway may influence the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in case of hormone-dependent tumors. Our study investigated a possible interaction at the molecular level between an aqueous herbal extract of Epilobium angustifolium as well as a lipid-sterolic fruit extract of Serenoa repens and synthetic drugs used in the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers. Material and methods: E. angustifolium and Serenoa repens extracts were orally administered to testosteroneinduced rats for 21 days. Changes of RafA/Mapk3/Mapk1 mRNA levels were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR using target specific primers. Results: The level of RafA mRNA slightly increased in rats receiving Epilobium angustifolium (p=0.076) and Serenoa repens (p=0.016) extracts. Administration of these extracts resulted in significantly elevated Mapk1 and Mapk3 transcripts in the investigated animals (p<0.05 for each extract). The levels of Mapk1 and Mapk3 mRNA strongly increased (p<0.05 for each extract) in animals receiving concomitantly testosterone and the extracts, while RafA transcription slightly decreased (p<0.05), as compared to controls. Conclusions: The results of our study may indicate a potential effect of S. repens and E angustifolium extracts on the functioning of non-genomic cellular signaling kinases pathway. We investigated safety of these extracts to detect possible drug interactions between synthetic drugs used in the treatment of proliferative changes in hormone-dependent reproductive organs and herbal preparations.