SUPPRESSION OF SPONTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT OF UTERINE ADENOMYOSIS AND MAMMARY HYPERPLASTIC ALVEOLAR NODULES BY CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES IN MICE

The effects of traditional Chinese herbal remedies, Shakuyaku-kanzo-to (SKT) and Hachimi-jiou-gan (HJG), on the spontaneous development of u terine adenomyosis and mammary hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN) wer e examined in an experimental animal model using SHN strain of mice. F emale mice were provided with the chow containing 1% of SKT or HJG dur ing 25-150 days of age. At 150 days of age, SKT treatment showed signi ficantly lower incidence of adenomyosis, and HJG treatment resulted in a significantly lower incidence of HAN when compared to a control cho w containing no medicines. Long-term exposure to these herbal medicine s affected little serum prolactin (PRL) level, estrous cycle, food int ake and body growth. Thus, the present mouse data suggest that the ora l administration of these herbal medicines is a useful tool for the tr eatment of uterine adenomyosis or mammary disorder such as cystic mast itis.