A plant-derived non-estrogenic and non-androgenic alternative to estrogen or androgen replacement therapy

The search for alternatives of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has resulted in a new market for plant derived substances. The question whether they bear the same benefits and risks as classical estrogens used for HRT remains unanswered. 20-OH-Ecdysone (Ecd) is the molting hormone of arthropods and also produced by a number of plants to prevent herbivori by caterpillars. Ecd has protein anabolic effects and does not bind to estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) or ER-β.Following a 3 months oral treatment of ovariectomized (ovx) or orchidectomized (orx) rats (53mg/day/animal) it has no stimulatory effects on the uterin…