Ameliorative Effects of Pueraria lobata Extract on Postmenopausal Symptoms through Promoting Estrogenic Activity and Bone Markers in Ovariectomized Rats

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, known as kudzu, is one of the most popular traditional medicines in Asian countries. It has been widely used as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy for treating postmenopausal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the estrogenic effect of P. lobata extract (PE) against postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX rats were treated with PE (25–1600 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Biochemical parameters, estradiol, and bone turnover markers (e.g., osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide fragment of type I collagen, deoxypyridinoline, and pyridinoline) were measured in plasma samples. In addition, estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) protein expression and morphology of uterine were evaluated. Long-term treatment with PE did not cause liver damage in OVX rats. PE supplementation reduced body weight gain in obese rats with high lipid accumulation induced by ovariectomy. Furthermore, PE exhibited a protective effect against insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic lipid peroxidation. PE treatment increased uterine weight and thickness of the uterine layers in cases of uterus atrophy due to removal of ovaries. The levels of bone turnover markers, which were significantly increased in OVX rats, were decreased by PE treatment. Western blotting analysis showed that ER-α protein expression was upregulated in PE-treated rats compared with OVX rats. These results suggest that PE could be a promising alternative functional food for improving menopausal symptoms.