Problem and method of study: We investigated the ovulation-inducing effects of Unkei-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, in relation to the production of sex steroid hormones (17beta-estradiol and progesterone), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC/gro), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the rat ovarian cell culture.
Results: Unkei-to at a concentration of 100 microg/mL significantly stimulated the secretions of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone (P < 0.01) in cultured whole ovarian dispersates. Unkei-to also enhanced the secretion of CINC/gro in a dose-dependent manner, and the secretions of CINC/gro increased significantly at concentrations of 10 and 100 microg/mL (P < 0.01). These stimulatory effects of Unkei-to on steroidgenesis and CINC/gro production are very similar to those of another Japanese herbal medicine, Toki-Shakuyaku-san. In addition, Unkei-to significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced the secretions of both IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, which are known to stimulate the secretion of CINC/gro in the ovulatory process, at concentrations of 10 and 100 microg/mL. The stimulatory effect of Unkei-to at a concentration of 100 microg/mL on IL-1beta/was significantly (P < 0.01) lower than that of Toki-Shakuyaku-san, while the stimulatory effects of these two herbal medicines at a concentration of 100 microg/mL on TNF-alpha were similar.
Conclusions: These results show that Unkei-to can stimulate ovarian steroidgenesis and the ovulatory process by inducing the secretion of CINC/gro with IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in vitro. Unkei-to has stimulatory effects on both steroidgenesis and the ovulatory process in the ovary as well as a stimulatory effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, and it may be useful for treating patients with ovulatory disorders.