[Estrogenicity of adzuki bean Phaseolus angularis wight. and its effect on proesterone receptor level in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the estrogenic activity of ethanol extract from adzuki bean Phaseolus angularis and its effect on progesterone receptor (PR) level of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

METHODS

The modified MCF-7 cell proliferation assay was used to evaluate the estrogenic activity of adzuki bean extract. And its effect on PR mRNA and protein were addressed using RT-PCR measurements and western blotting analysis respectively in which pure estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 was employed as the tool.

RESULTS

The estrogenic activity of adzuki bean extract at various concentrations (10-200 microg x mL(-1)), expressed as proliferative effect (PE) relative to that of solvent control, was examined. The results indicated that the extract of adzuki bean was able to induce MCF-7 cell growth with a maximum at 100 microg x mL(-1). The results of RT-PCR and western blotting showed that PR mRNA and protein could be significantly induced by adzuki bean extract in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 could block these reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanol extract of adzuki bean has the estrogen-like activities through the estrogen response pathway.