In vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes L. extracts and isolated compounds

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Asplenium trichomanes was used as an expectorant, anti-cough remedy, laxative, emmenagogue, abortifacient and for irregular menses. Aim of the study: To investigate the in vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes extracts and isolated compounds and their ability to activate ER and ER . Materials and methods: Leaves infusion (IF), decoction (DC) and methanol extract (ME) were prepared. MCF7/EREluc cell line which expresses endogenous ER , and SK-NBE cells transiently transfected with the estrogen receptors (ER and ER )were used for the estrogenic activity assays. Phytochemical investigations were performed (CC, HPLC, etc.) and structure of isolated compounds were achieved on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HR-MS spectrometry. Results: IF andMEwere active in our MCF7 model; selectivity for the ER receptorwas observed in the SKNBE test. Two new phenol derivatives, 4-vinyl-phenol-1-O-[ -l-rhamno(1→6)- -d-glucopyranosyde] (1) and kaempferol-3-O- -[2 acetyl]-arabinofuranosyl-7-O- -l-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated with six known compounds (3–8). Compounds 2–4, 7 and 8 showed selectivity for the activation of the ER receptor although with a moderate activity compared with 17- -estradiol. Conclusion: Further investigations about the estrogenic effects of this plant are needed but our data can, at least in part, explain some of its traditional use as emmeagogue.