Apigenin, a Single Active Component of Herbal Extract, Alleviates Xerostomia via ERα-Mediated Upregulation of AQP5 Activation.

ABSTRACT: Xerostomia is a common symptom in menopausal women, suggesting the role of sex steroids in disease development. Shreds of literature had reported the potential use of herbal extracts to relieve xerostomia. However, a cocktail of multiple components in herbal extract makes it difficult to understand the exact mechanism of action. Aquaporin5 (AQP5), the specific aquaporin expressed in salivary glands, plays an important role in salivary secretion as a downstream of estrogen signaling. In this study, we aimed to unravel a single active herbal component as a therapeutic for xerostomia and investigate its mechanism of action. The effects of apigenin (flavonoid), dauricine (alkaloids), protopine (alkaloids), and lentinan (polysaccharides) on AQP5 transcription were screened in vitro. Only

SUBMITTER: Wei W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8899471 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature