Abstract:
Climacteric symptoms, as well as postmenopausal estrogen deficiency, have been associated
with many psychological problems and the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Therefore, in this
study, we aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the dose-dependent effect of water chestnut (WC), also
known as Trapa bicornis, a fruit extract, on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced menopause in ICR mice. After
bilateral OVX surgery, 200, 100, and 50 mg/kg of WC and 200 mg/kg of pomegranate concentrate
powder (PCP) were administered orally for 84 days from 4 weeks after OVX operation. Then, anticlimacteric activities were evaluated in five groups: (1) estrogenic, (2) anti-obesity, (3) hypolipidemic,
(4) hepatoprotective, and (5) anti-osteoporosis effects. Different biochemical assays, histopathological
and morphological inspections, and mRNA expression findings showed that OVX-induced estrogen deficiency-related AMPK decrease was associated with climacteric symptoms such as obesity,
hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and osteoporosis in ICR mice. However, these climacteric effects
were reversed in OVX rats by treating them with WC at a dose relative to the same dose of PCP
in OVX-ICR mice (200 and 100 mg/kg). Water chestnut fruit extract demonstrated promise as a
complementary treatment for menopausal symptoms, indicating possible uses in the health of women
through supplements or prescription drugs.
