This study aimed to explore the characteristic role of Puerariae Lobatae Radix(PLR) in
Gegen Decoction for the treatment of primary
dysmenorrhea(PD).
Estrogen(E_2) was combined with
oxytocin to establish a mouse model of PD. The mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a
Gegen Decoction group, a PLR-free
Gegen Decoction group, a PLR group, and a positive
drug group(
ibuprofen). Writhing response times and writhing incubation of mice in each group were tested by behavio-ral assessment, and the serum levels of
prostaglandin F_(2α)(
PGF_(2α)),
prostaglandin E_2(
PGE_2), E_2, and
progesterone(PROG) were detected by ELISA kits. Western blot method was adopted to detect cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and
estrogen receptor alpha(ER_α) expression levels in uterine tissues. Doppler ultrasound was employed to detect changes in uterine artery blood flow in mice, including peak systolic blood flow velocity(maximum velocity), end-diastolic velocity(minimum velocity), peak systolic blood flow velocity/end-diastolic velocity(S/D), pulsatility index(PI), and resistive index(RI). Histopathological changes in the uterus were detected by HE staining. Based on the
oxytocin-induced isolated uterine contraction model, the effects of
Gegen Decoction, PLR-free
Gegen Decoction, and PLR on the amplitude, frequency, and activity of isolated uterine contraction were compared to investigate the role of PLR in
Gegen Decoction for the treatment of PD. The results showed that compared with the
Gegen Decoction group, the PLR-free
Gegen Decoction improved the indicators of PD except for E_2 content, ER_α expression, and uterine artery blood flow. PLR could significantly down-regulate the serum content of E_2 and the
protein expression of uterine ER_α, and improve the uterine artery blood flow. The data suggested that PLR, as the sovereign
drug of
Gegen Decoction, might function in
Gegen Decoction for the treatment of PD by mediating E_(2 )and improving the uterine artery blood flow.