EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF SOYBEAN PHYTOESTROGEN-RICH EXTRACT IN 4-VINYLCYCLOHEXANE DIEPOXIDE-INDUCED MENOPAUSAL RATS

Olaniyan Edusola Juliana, Emokpae Mathias Abiodun, Oyakhire Fidelis Ohiremen*, Ahmed Liasu Adeagbo, Esezobor Iria Kelly and Olaniyan Stephen Olawale

ABSTRACT

The vasomotor symptoms of menopause, which include hot flashes, sweating, physical and psychological discomfort, and emotional changes, are real and experienced by a large portion of the menopausal and postmenopausal female population. In addition, it causes osteoporosis and slowed metabolism, both of which raise the chance of developing a number of different ailments. Given that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been linked to an increased cancer risk, this investigation was undertaken to identify viable alternatives. The study aimed to evaluate antioxidant properties of soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract in 4-vinylcyclohexane diepoxide-induced menopausal rats. Sixty five (65) female albino Wistar rats were employed in the investigation (n=20 for toxicity study, n=15 for preliminary and 30 for experimaental study) and each one of the experimaental animal was induced with 80mg/kg of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide before being treated with either normal estradiol therapy (14ug/kg) or varying concentrations of the soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg). The levels of total antioxidant, vitamin E, and oxidative stress marker (malonialdehyde (MDA) were all measured spectrophotometrically. Statistical software SPSS (IBM) version 23.0 was used to analyze the data. Treatment with soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract resulted in dose-dependent decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the positive control group. Compared to the positive control group, the measured antioxidant levels of the soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract treatment group increased significantly (p<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Data from this research clearly demonstrate increased anti-oxidants effects of a soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract therapy in menopause-induced female Wistar rats. Soybean phytoestrogen-rich extract therapy in a high-dose appears to be more effective compared to hormone replacement therapy as an alternate source of estrogen in treatment of oxidative stress in menopausal and post-menopausal women.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Phytoestrogens, Menopause, Soybean extract, oxidative stress.