Egyptian Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

Egyptian Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology
Vol. 2 (2012), Issue 2, pp. 1-12 
doi:10.11131/2012/101335

A Comparative Study of the Effects of Raloxifene and Soy Extract on Skin Changes Induced by Ovariectomy in Rats

Background: Menopause due to estrogen deficiency accelerates age-related skin changes. Aim of the Work: The present study was designed to compare the effects of raloxifene (a well known synthetic selective estrogen receptor modulator) with the natural phytoestrogen, soy extract, on skin changes in ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of menopause. Methods: The animals were divided into sham group, OVX group, OVX treated with raloxifene (3 mg/kg/day) and OVX treated with soy extract (50mg/kg/day). The treatments were given via oral gavages for 4 weeks. Results: Treatment of OVX rats with raloxifene or soy extract increased significantly collagen I gene and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 gene in the skin with significant reduction in skin matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 gene as compared to untreated OVX group. Raloxifene or soy extract treated OVX rats showed significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) level in plasma with significant increase in plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) level compared to the untreated OVX group. Histological investigations revealed that both drugs preserve epidermal thickness and restore collagen architecture in treated OVX rats compared to the untreated OVX group. Conclusion: Soy extract was as effective as raloxifene in OVX rat model of menopause. Both treatments produced partial protective effects on the skin and these effects might be due to an estrogen like mechanism and the antioxidant properties.