Influence of the citrotherapy in the production of prostaglandins by healthy women during menstrual period

Abstract

The woman's body suffers several hormonal changes for the preparation of pregnancy. Thus, estrogen and progesterone act in response to fertilization, or not. If there is no implantation, hormonal levels decrease, increasing the concentration of prostaglandin (PG) through action of cyclooxygenase enzyme. The PGF2± and PGE2, heavily produced during menstruation, are responsible for part of the endometrial contraction, causing severe uterine pain, known as dysmenorrhea. Depending on the intensity, cramps may be controlled by the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, blocking prostaglandin synthesis. However, this kind of therapeutic option produces side effects. In this sense, the use of phytotherapy products has been proposed as an alternative for the control of inflammatory symptoms. The Taiti lemon (Citrus latifolia), has been shown to be effective in controlling the effects of menstruation in women who have deregulated cycles. However, these mechanisms are not entirely known, but the inhibition of the arachidonic acid cascade is one possibility. Thus, it is intended to study the effect of citrus therapy based on Taiti lemon in the production of PGs and gene expression of transcripts IL-1b, IL-6, TNFa, AKR1B1 and AKR1C3 involved in the PGs synthesis or on uterine inflammatory process in healthy women during menstruation. For this, fertile period women in the age group of 18-40 years will be invited and divided into three groups, depending on the stimulation that will be exhibited: Lemon Group (G1, n = 15), Meloxicam Group (G2, n = 15) and control group (G3, n = 15). The prostaglandin production will be evaluated in the three groups, and the total blood and collected menstrual blood will be used for plasma dosage and cell culture of total blood stimulated or not with LPS to compare lemon inhibitory activity with meloxicam medicine in the genes expression or production of PGE2 and PGF2a and gene expression of transcript involved in the synthesis of the PGs or on uterine inflammatory process. (AU)