The mechanism of selfheal extract in treating hyperprolactinemia

Selfheal has been used for many years in hyperprolactinemia induced galactorrhea, menstrual disorders, and dysgenesis with satisfactory curative effect. However, its mechanism is still unclear. This study intended to investigate the effect of selfheal extract on hyperprolactinemia in vivo and in vitro, in order to elucidate its mechanism of anti-hyperprolactinemia.

Hyperprolactinemia rat model was established. High dose (28.8 g/(kg⋅d)), middle dose (14.4 g/ (kg⋅d)), and low dose (7.2 g/(kg⋅d)) of selfheal extract were used to treat the model to observe impact on serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Three cell lines MMQ, GH3, and PC12 were applied to investigate selfheal extract effect on PRL secretion, dopamine D2 receptor, and dopamine transporter (DAT).

High and middle dose of selfheal extract significantly reduced PRL level in hyperprolactinemia rat compared with model group (P< 0.01). Compared with normal control, 5 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml selfheal extract obviously inhibited PRL secretion in MMQ cells that high expressed D2 receptor after 24 hours (P< 0.01), but did not affect PRL secretion in GH3 cells lack of D2 receptor. 8 mg/ml selfheal extract markedly suppressed D2 receptor and DAT expression in PC12 cells that strongly expressed D2 receptor and DAT (P< 0.01).

Selfheal extract treated hyperprolactinemia through dopamine D2 receptor with significant effect.