Selection of the Optimal Herbal Compositions of Red Clover and Pomegranate According to Their Protective Effect against Climacteric Symptoms in Ovariectomized Mice

This study aimed to ascertain the optimal range of red clover dry extracts (RC) and dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) to induce anti-climacteric effects. Thus, the dose ranges showing protective effect of mixed formulae consisting of RC and PCP were examined in ovariectomized mice. At 28 days after bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), mixed herbal compositions (RC:PCP = 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1) were administered orally, at 120 mg/kg once daily for 84 days. We evaluated that RC and PCP mixture attenuate OVX-caused obesity, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and osteoporosis. Compared to OVX-induced control mice, body weight and abdominal fat weight in OVX-induced mice were significantly decreased, concomitantly with increase of uterus weight by RC:PCP mixture. Additionally, significant increases in serum estradiol levels were observed in all RC:PCP-treated mice. RC:PCP mixture also showed protective effect against OVX-induced hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis. Total body and femur mean bone mineral density (BMD), osteocalcin, bALP contents were effectively increased by RC:PCP mixture. Taken together, RC:PCP mixture (2:1, 1:1, and 4:1) has remarkable protective effects against the changes induced by OVX. In particular, RC:PCP mixture (2:1) shows the strongest effect and may be considered as a potential protective agent against climacteric symptoms.


Introduction
During the climacteric period, many women between the ages of 40 and 65 years experience and complain of uncomfortable symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, night sweats, cognitive impairment, insomnia, depression, and irritability [1,2]. In addition, body weight gain, fatigue and hot flashes are major symptoms characterized of menopause women. Many symptoms of menopause were closely associated with level of estrogen. These postmenopausal conditions are related to an

Experimental Design
In the present study, Kwl:ddY mice (6 weeks old upon receipt) were prepared and ovariectomy was performed 16 days after acclimatization. Mice were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of 25 mg/kg of Zoletile (Zoletile 50™; Virbac Laboratories, Carros, France) and maintained with 1%-1.5% isoflurane (Hana Pharmaceutical Co., Hwasung, Korea) in a mixture of 70% N 2 O and 28.5% O 2 . Surgery was conducted according to established methods [31]. The second group of mice underwent a sham operation in which a similar incision in the linea alba was made but bilateral ovariectomy was not performed.
At 28 days after surgery, 8 mice per group were selected based on body weight and RC (120 mg/kg), PCP (120 mg/kg), or an RC:PCP mixture (g/g) was administered orally once a day for 84 days. Standardized RC, PCP, and RC:PCP 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 (g/g) mixture were provided by HEALTH-LOVE Co., Ltd. (Anyang, Korea). The RC substance contained 8% total isoflavones, 0.62% genistein, 5.43% biochanin A, 3.66% formononetin, and 0.47% daidzein suspended in 12 mg/mL of distilled water. The PCP substance contained 0.90 mg/g of ellagic acid dissolved in 12 mg/mL of distilled water. Appropriate amounts of RC, PCP, and the RC:PCP mixture (g/g) were directly suspended or dissolved in distilled water and administered in a volume of 10 mL/kg. In OVX and sham control mice, only distilled water was administered orally as a vehicle in equal volumes and periods instead of the herbal formulas. In addition, 17β-estradiol (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) 0.03 µg was dissolved in 0.2 mL of sterilized saline, and subcutaneously treated on the dorsal back skins in a volume of 0.2 mL/mouse (0.03 µg/head/day). After 84 days of continuous oral administration, the mice were anesthetized with 50 mg/kg of Zoletile and dissected according to established methods [32] (Figure 1).
Nutrients 2016, 8,447 4 of 23 USA) 0.03 μg was dissolved in 0.2 mL of sterilized saline, and subcutaneously treated on the dorsal back skins in a volume of 0.2 mL/mouse (0.03 μg/head/day). After 84 days of continuous oral administration, the mice were anesthetized with 50 mg/kg of Zoletile and dissected according to established methods [32] (Figure 1). Differences in body weight were measured at the time of ovariectomy, 1 day before RC, PCP, and RC:PCP administration, and once a week from the initiation of administration to termination using an automatic electronic balance (Precisa Instruments, Dietikon, Switzerland) [29]. At ovariectomy, the first administration, and at termination, food, but not water, was withheld from the experimental animals (approximately 18 h prior) to reduce differences due to feeding.

Measurement of the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Body Fat Density
The mean BMD of total body and the right femur were determined using in live dual-energy Xray absorptionmetry (DEXA; InAlyzer, Medikors, Seungnam, Korea). In addition, mean fat densities on the body and abdominal cavity regions of each mouse, respectively.

Organ Weight Measurements
At sacrifice, the abdominal fat pads deposited in the abdominal cavity, total liver, and uterus (including vagina) were collected after removing the surrounding connective tissues, muscles, and any debris, after which the weights of organs were measured at g levels for absolute wet-weights. To reduce the individual body weight differences, the relative weights (% of body weight) were calculated at sacrifice.

Bone Weight Measurements
At sacrifice, the right sides of the femurs were collected after removing the surrounding connective tissues, muscles, and any debris. The bone weight was measured at g levels regarding absolute wet-weights, and they were dried at 120 °C for 8 h in a high temperature dry oven (LDO-080N, Daihan Labtech Co., Seoul, Korea) for measurements of dry bone weights. Next, dried bones were carbonized at 800 °C for 6 h in a furnace (LEF-1055-1, Daihan Labtech Co.) to measure ash absolute weights. To reduce the individual body weight differences, the relative weight (%) was calculated the proportion of absolute wet/dry/ash weight based on the body weight at sacrifice.

Measurement of Bone Strengths
Bone strength was detected as failure load (FL). FL of mid-shaft regions of right femurs were detected using a three-point bending test to failure using a computerized testing machine (SV-H1000, Japan Instrumentation System Co., Tokyo, Japan) as N (Newton). Differences in body weight were measured at the time of ovariectomy, 1 day before RC, PCP, and RC:PCP administration, and once a week from the initiation of administration to termination using an automatic electronic balance (Precisa Instruments, Dietikon, Switzerland) [29]. At ovariectomy, the first administration, and at termination, food, but not water, was withheld from the experimental animals (approximately 18 h prior) to reduce differences due to feeding.

Measurement of the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Body Fat Density
The mean BMD of total body and the right femur were determined using in live dual-energy X-ray absorptionmetry (DEXA; InAlyzer, Medikors, Seungnam, Korea). In addition, mean fat densities on the body and abdominal cavity regions of each mouse, respectively.

Organ Weight Measurements
At sacrifice, the abdominal fat pads deposited in the abdominal cavity, total liver, and uterus (including vagina) were collected after removing the surrounding connective tissues, muscles, and any debris, after which the weights of organs were measured at g levels for absolute wet-weights. To reduce the individual body weight differences, the relative weights (% of body weight) were calculated at sacrifice.

Bone Weight Measurements
At sacrifice, the right sides of the femurs were collected after removing the surrounding connective tissues, muscles, and any debris. The bone weight was measured at g levels regarding absolute wet-weights, and they were dried at 120˝C for 8 h in a high temperature dry oven (LDO-080N, Daihan Labtech Co., Seoul, Korea) for measurements of dry bone weights. Next, dried bones were carbonized at 800˝C for 6 h in a furnace (LEF-1055-1, Daihan Labtech Co.) to measure ash absolute weights. To reduce the individual body weight differences, the relative weight (%) was calculated the proportion of absolute wet/dry/ash weight based on the body weight at sacrifice.

Measurement of Bone Strengths
Bone strength was detected as failure load (FL). FL of mid-shaft regions of right femurs were detected using a three-point bending test to failure using a computerized testing machine (SV-H1000, Japan Instrumentation System Co., Tokyo, Japan) as N (Newton).

Blood Collection
For serum biochemistry, approximately 1 mL of whole blood was collected from vena cava at sacrifice and separated from the serum by centrifugation at 21,000ˆg for 10 min at 4˝C using a clotting activated serum tube. All serum samples were frozen at´150˝C until they were assayed.

Serum Biochemistry
Serum aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and triglyceride (TG) levels were detected using an automated blood analyzer (Hemagen Analyst; Hemagen Diagnostic, Columbia, MD, USA), and HDL levels were measured using another typed automated blood analyzer (AU400; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). In addition, serum osteocalcin levels were detected using a Mouse Osteocalcin ELISA Kit (Immutopics, San Clemente, CA, USA) as ng/mL levels, and serum bALP levels were detected using the Mouse bALP ELISA kit (Quidel Corp., San Diego, CA, USA), as U/L levels as pg/mL, with an ELISA Reader (Tecan, Männedorf, Switzerland). In addition, serum estradiol contents were measured using the chemiluminescent immunoassay technique (ECLIA, Roche e411 immunoassay analyzer, Roche, Penzberg, Germany) from the separated serum at sacrifice in all mice.

Abdominal Fat Pads, Uterus, and Liver Histological Procedures
Sampled tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF). After paraffin embedding, 3-4 µm serial sections were prepared. Representative sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for light microscopic examination. Alternatively, portions of liver that had been dehydrated in 30% sucrose solutions were sectioned by cryostat for staining the lipids with oil red [33]. The total thicknesses of abdominal fat pads were measured using an automated image analysis processor (iSolution FL; ver. 9.1, IMT i-solution Inc., Quebec, QC, Canada) as mm/mouse, and mean diameters of dorsal abdominal white adipocytes were calculated in restricted view fields on a computer monitor, using an automated image analysis processor, as µm. At least 10 white adipocytes per fat pad were considered for histomorphometrical analysis according to our previously established methods [29,33,34]. In addition, total full, mucosa, and epithelial thicknesses of the uterus (µm/uterus) were detected as percentages of uterine glands located in the mucosa (%/mucosa of uterus) using an automated image analyzer. To observe steatosis in the liver, the percentage of fatty change regions in hepatic parenchyma was calculated as percentages between 1 field of liver (%/mm 2 of hepatic parenchyma) under oil red staining, and mean diameters of hepatocytes were calculated in restricted view fields on a computer monitor under H&E staining using an automated image analysis processor, as µm; at least 10 hepatocytes per liver were considered.

Bone Histological Procedures
The left sides of each mouse femur were separated and fixed in 10% NBF, after which they were decalcified in decalcifying solution (24.4% formic acid and 0.5 N sodium hydroxide) for 3 days (mixed decalcifying solution was exchanged once a day for 3 days). The samples were then embedded in paraffin, sectioned (3~4 µm), and stained with Safranin-O stain. In addition, bone histomorphometry was conducted using an automated image analyzer under microscopy (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan) to examine bone mass and structure with bone resorption in a uniform area of epiphyseal or cortical bone regions of the femur (growth plate regions were excluded). Cortical bone thickness was also measured in the mid-shaft regions of the femur. Trabecular bone volume (TV/BV, TBV; %), thickness of trabecular bone (Tbt; µm/trabecular bone), number (Tbn; mean numbers of trabecular bone/epiphyseal regions), length (Tbl; mm/trabecular bone), and cortical bone thickness (Cbt; µm/mid-shaft cortical bone) were measured for bone mass and structure, and osteoclast cell number (Ocn; mean osteoclast cell numbers/epiphyseal regions) and ratio (OS/BS; %) were measured for bone resorption as described previously [20,31,35].

Statistical Analyses
All values for the eight mice in this experiment were expressed as means˘SD. Multiple comparison tests were performed a two-tailed test for the different dose groups. Variance homogeneity was examined using the Levene test. If the Levene test indicated no significant deviations from variance homogeneity, the data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test followed by the least-significant differences test to determine which group comparisons were significantly different. When significant deviations from variance homogeneity were observed on the Levene test, the non-parametric the Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted. When a significant difference was observed on the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to determine the specific pairs of groups that were significantly different. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS for Windows software package (ver. 14.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Body Weight and Gains
Body weights were the higher in all OVX induced mice than in shame control mice, with significant increases in body weight gains during the 4-week OVX recovery/induction periods. In contrast, OVX-induced body weight increase was significantly prevented by all seven RC:PCP mixed formulae, from 14, 21, and 28 days after the initial treatment, compared with OVX control mice. Especially, the mice treated with 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1.
Mixtures had a lower body weight increase than that treated with RC or PCP alone on days 28, 42, and 49 after the initial treatment, in that order ( Table 2, Appendix A).

Food Consumption
Compared with sham control mice at 1, 3, 7, 28, 56, and 83 days after initial administration, OVX-induced mice showed significant increases in food consumption. No significant change in daily food consumption was observed in the RC alone, PCP alone, or any of the seven RC:PCP mixed formula-treated mice, compared with OVX control mice (Appendix B).

Organ Weights
OVX-induced mice showed significant higher in relative abdominal fat pad weight deposited in the abdominal cavity compared with sham control mice. In contrast, uterus and liver relative weights were lower in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice. However, these changes in abdominal fat, uterus and liver weights were prevented by estradiol, RC, PCP and RC:PCP treatments ( Table 3). The mean relative weights of abdominal fat pads deposited into the abdominal cavity in OVX controls were changed by 1491.59%, compared with the sham control, and by´78.86%,´41.76%,´36.56%, 65.51%,´74.73%, and´62.83%, in the estradiol-, RC alone-, PCP alone-, and 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 RC:PCP mixed formula-treated mice, respectively, compared with the OVX controls. The mean relative uterine weights of OVX were changed by´92.53%, compared with sham controls, and by 372.56%, 74.57%, 67.51%, 145.55%, 200.64%, and 142.46% in estradiol-, RC alone-, PCP alone-, and 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 RC:PCP mixed formula-treated mice, respectively, compared with OVX controls.

Changes in Abdominal Fat Pad, Uterus, and Liver Histopathology
Significant increases in the thickness of abdominal fat pads deposited into the abdominal cavity and the mean adipocyte diameters were observed in OVX-induced mice due to the deposition in adipose tissues in the abdominal cavity and the hypertrophy of adipocytes, respectively. However, the thickness of abdominal fat pads and their mean diameters of adipocytes in all test substance-administrated mice (including estradiol treated mice) were the lower than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice showed more inhibitory activities in the deposition in adipose tissues and the hypertrophy of adipocytes than compared with RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Table 4, Figure 2).
Significant decreases in total, mucosa, and epithelial thicknesses of the uterus, and in the percentages of uterine glands in the mucosa, were observed in OVX-induced mice due to estrogen depletion-related atrophic changes. However, total, mucosa, and epithelial thicknesses of the uterus, as well as in the percentages of uterine glands in the mucosain estradiol-and 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 RC:PCP mixed formula-treated mice were the higher than in OVX control mice. Especially, significant normalization in OVX-induced uterine atrophic histopathological changes were detected in RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice compared with RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Table 5, Figure 3). Values are expressed mean ± S.D. of eight mice. * p < 0.05 as compared with sham control; # p < 0.01 as compared with OVX control; † p < 0.05 as compared with RC single formula treated mice; ‡ p < 0.01 as compared with PCP single formula treated mice; OVX = Bilateral ovariectomy; RC = Red clover dry extracts; PCP = Pomegranate Concentrate Powder; RC:PCP = Mixed formulations consisted of RC and PCP (g/g).      Significant increases in the percentage of fatty change regions and mean diameters of hepatocytes were observed in OVX-induced mice due to the deposition of lipids into hepatocytes and steatosis.
However, the percentage of fatty change regions and mean diameters of hepatocytes in all test substance-administered mice (including estradiol-treated mice) were the lower than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice showed more significant inhibition in hepatic steatosis-increases of the percentage of fatty change regions and mean diameters of hepatocytes induced by OVX than in RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Table 4, Figure 4).

Femur Weight
Femur relative wet-weights and absolute and relative dry and ash weights were the lower in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice. However, the femur wet relative weight and dry and ash absolute and relative weights in all test substance-treated mice, including estradiol treated mice, were the higher than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP (2:1, 1:1, and 4:1)-treated mice were higher than in OVX control mice (Table 6).

Femur Histopathology
Although relatively well-developed trabecular and cortical bone were observed in the femur of sham control mice, classical osteoporotic histological profiles were observed in OVX-induced mice as significant decreases in trabecular and cortical bone masses and increases in connective tissues in periosteum of cortical bone resulting from resorption of osteoid tissues related to osteoclast activation. However, bone mass and structures, of both trabecular and cortical bones in all test substance-administered mice were the higher than in OVX control mice, which is related to their inhibitory activities on osteoclast cell activities. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice showed the lower noticeable inhibition in the bone losses and osteoclast cell activations than RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Tables 7 and 8, Figure 5).  TV/BV, Tbn, Tbt, Tbl, and Cbt were the higher in OVX-induced mice than in sham-operated control mice in the femur. However, bone mass and structures in estradiol and 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 RC:PCP mixed formulae-treated mice were the lower than in OVX control mice, respectively (Tables 7 and 8, Figure 5). Ocn and OS/BS were the higher in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice, in the femur. However, these activations and increases in osteoclast cells were in all test substances including estradiol were the lower than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice showed the lower in the inhibitory activity against bone mass depletion and destroy of structure induced by OVX than RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Table 8, Figure 5).

Biochemical Variable
Serum AST, ALT, TC, LDL, TG and osteocalcin levels were higher and serum HDL, estradiol and bALP levels were the lower in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice. However, serum AST, ALT, TC, LDL, TG, and osteocalcin levels and serum HDL, estradiol and bALP levels in all test material-treated mice were the lower and higher than in OVX control mice, respectively. Especially, TV/BV, Tbn, Tbt, Tbl, and Cbt were the higher in OVX-induced mice than in sham-operated control mice in the femur. However, bone mass and structures in estradiol and 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 RC:PCP mixed formulae-treated mice were the lower than in OVX control mice, respectively (Tables 7 and 8, Figure 5). Ocn and OS/BS were the higher in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice, in the femur. However, these activations and increases in osteoclast cells were in all test substances including estradiol were the lower than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice showed the lower in the inhibitory activity against bone mass depletion and destroy of structure induced by OVX than RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Table 8, Figure 5).

Biochemical Variable
Serum AST, ALT, TC, LDL, TG and osteocalcin levels were higher and serum HDL, estradiol and bALP levels were the lower in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice. However, serum AST, ALT, TC, LDL, TG, and osteocalcin levels and serum HDL, estradiol and bALP levels in all test material-treated mice were the lower and higher than in OVX control mice, respectively. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1 and 4:1 mixed formula treated mice showed the lower than in single formula of RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively (Table 9, Figures 6 and 7).

Bone Mineral and Body Fat Density
Total body and femur mean BMDs were the lower and total body and abdominal fat densities were the higher in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice. However, total body and femur mean BMD in estradiol-and all test material-administered mice were the higher than in OVX control mice, otherwise total body and abdominal fat densities were the lower in all material treated mice than OVX control mice. Especially, the RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1 mixtures showed the higher BMD and the lower fat densities than in RC or PCP alone-treated mice (Table 10).

Effects of RC/PCP Mixture on Bone Strength
The strengths (FL) of femur mid-shaft regions in OVX-induced mice were the lower than in sham control mice, but FL on the femur in all test substance-administrated mice including 1 mL/kg PCP-treated mice were the higher than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1 mixtures showed the lower in FL in the femur mid-shaft regions than in RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively ( Figure 8).

Bone Mineral and Body Fat Density
Total body and femur mean BMDs were the lower and total body and abdominal fat densities were the higher in OVX-induced mice than in sham control mice. However, total body and femur mean BMD in estradiol-and all test material-administered mice were the higher than in OVX control mice, otherwise total body and abdominal fat densities were the lower in all material treated mice than OVX control mice. Especially, the RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1 mixtures showed the higher BMD and the lower fat densities than in RC or PCP alone-treated mice (Table 10).

Effects of RC/PCP Mixture on Bone Strength
The strengths (FL) of femur mid-shaft regions in OVX-induced mice were the lower than in sham control mice, but FL on the femur in all test substance-administrated mice including 1 mL/kg PCPtreated mice were the higher than in OVX control mice. Especially, RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1 mixtures showed the lower in FL in the femur mid-shaft regions than in RC-or PCP-treated mice, in that orders, respectively ( Figure 8).

Discussion
In this study, we found that RC with PCP alleviated climacteric symptoms, such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and osteoporosis, in OVX mice. Our results indicated that RC:PCP mixed formulae (RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1) exerted enhanced pharmacological effects, compared with RC or PCP alone treatment. Large evidence suggested that pomegranate juice and pomegranate polyphenol extracts can protect women from many types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and colitis [25,36,37]. In addition, pomegranate seed oil and pomegranate juice including flavonoids and anthocyanidins possessed a strong antioxidant activity when compared to that in red wine or green tea extract [38,39]. Flavonoids can interact directly with estrogen receptors and regulate the activity of CYP19, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in estrogen biosynthesis [40]. These property results in alterations of the overall hormonal balance, consequently leading to prevent bone loss and reducing osteoporotic effects and other menopausal symptoms [41]. These evidences support that the favorable effects of RC [14,22,23] and PCP [26,39] against OVX-induced symptoms are mainly associated with the antioxidant effects of isoflavonoids [15,27]. Therefore, appropriate mixtures consisting of RC and PCP may show greater protective effects by combination of isoflavonoids and ellagic acid [42,43]. The RC and PCP mixture may enhance direct free radical scavenging and indirectly induce antioxidative enzymes. It was thus assumed that appropriate RC:PCP mixtures may show more favorable synergistic anti-climacteric effects. Previously, no information to determine the optimal ranges of RC with PCP existed. Our results suggest that among the seven RC:PCP mixed formulae tested, RC:PCP 2:1 mixture showed the greatest inhibition against the climacteric symptoms induced by OVX in this experiment. Thus, our findings are interesting in that PCP exerted a potentially synergistic effect with other antioxidants, such as RC.
OVX induced marked increases in food consumption, body weight and gains, and abdominal fat deposition with adipocyte hypertrophy, which were inhibited significantly by 2:1, 1:1, and 4;1 RC:PCP mixed formulae. The RC:PCP 2:1 mixture showed the strongest inhibitory activities against obesity induced by OVX. Estrogen deficiency induced by OVX markedly accelerated food intake and changes in body fat deposition in the abdominal cavity. Additionally, an accumulation of fat deposition and cellular hypertrophy through expansion of intra-abdominal adipose tissue were observed in obesity-induced OVX mice. The correlation between estradiol and cholecystokinin (CCK) is well documented [44,45]. In addition, OVX models have been used to explain the mechanism of the operation of glucagon, because the activities of glucagon and glucagon antibodies on reduced and augmented meal sizes were both enhanced by estradiol [46]. Estradiol has been regarded as a modulator of eating and body weight by regulating the potency of the feedback signals that control meal size [46,47]. Under estradiol deficiency, eating and body weight are increased [48][49][50]. There is evidence of clinical relevance in that postmenopausal women show decreased estradiol levels; also, a high proportion of the obese population is represented by postmenopausal women [51]. It is assumed that the anti-obesity effects of the RC:PCP mixture may be related to estrogenic food intake effects, but more complex mechanisms are involved in the anti-obesity effects of PCP. Generally, enhanced digestive motility increases in fecal excretion, leading to a reduction in body weight in rodents [52,53].
OVX-induced mice showed a significant increase in serum TC, LDL, and TG levels, but decreased serum HDL contents. However, the hyperlipidemia resulting from OVX was inhibited significantly by RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1 mixed formulae. This finding is similar to previous reports showing a significant increase in TC, LDL, and TG, and low HDL levels, in postmenopausal women [54]; similar trends in serum lipids were observed in OVX induced mice [55]. The effects of estradiol on serum lipid profiles are believed to be mediated by inhibiting the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) [56]. Because HMG-CoA is the rate-limiting enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, these effects may occur through the elevation of HMG-CoA activity, which is associated with cholesterol synthesis [56].
Estrogen-deficiency osteoporosis induced by bilateral OVX was markedly inhibited by RC and PCP single formulae and by the RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, 4:1 mixed formulae. These effects are related with the increased diversity of isoflavonoids in the mixtures, at least, under these experimental conditions. Previous studies reported that each single formula of RC [23,61] or PCP [26,39] has anti-osteoporotic effects. Bone loss is aggravated in menopausal women with aging, because of the loss of estrogen. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs due to an imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation, which results in bone loss and structural deterioration of bone [62]. When determining anti-osteoporotic activities, the increase in bone weight is used as a good marker; however, it is difficult to evaluate anti-osteoporotic agents through changes in bone weight, with the exception of ash bone weight [63]. For an osteoporosis-related OVX model, bone turnover markers, including serum bALP content and osteocalcin levels, are appropriate [64][65][66], and BMD is considered a pivotal determinant of osteoporosis [67][68][69]. The observation of bone morphology using microscopy is good for evaluating anti-osteoporotic agents [31,35,70,71], especially, the trabecular and cortical bone changes significant in osteoporotic animals. In addition, some histomorphometric indices of bone mass and bone formation are decreased markedly, whereas histomorphometric indices of bone resorption are increased [31,35,72]. Thus, to evaluate the efficacy of various anti-osteoporosis agents, the histology of bones has been regard as an appropriate approach [31,35,71]. The RC:PCP mixed formulae evaluated here showed anti-osteoporotic activities similar to previous results [26,39].
OVX-induced uterine weight along with marked decreases in serum estradiol levels and related uterine atrophic changes, i.e., decreases in total, mucosa and epithelial thicknesses, and uterine glands in the mucosa were suppressed significantly by the RC:PCP mixed formulae. Loss of estrogen after menopause in women leads to climacteric symptoms [73,74], because estrogens affect numerous female target organs, such as the uterus, vagina, and skeletal and cardiovascular systems [75,76]. Recent study reported that soy isoflavone supplementation has no influence in endometrial thickness or in the rates of endometrial hyperplasia and female cancer in postmenopausal women [24]. In contrast, the other study reported that genistein (0.7 mg per day) had protective effect on trabecular bone loss in OVX control mice without hypertrophic effects on the uterus, while administration of genistein (5 mg per day) resulted in uterine hypertrophy. These data indicate that there is a marked difference between genistein dosages that prevent bone loss and those that induce uterine hypertrophy [77]. Genestein and specific ERβ agonist consumption may prevent the ileal and colonic epithelium from tumor development via modulation of tissue homeostasis [78]. Genistein enhanced the basal Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) and reduced the viral component-induced TLR2 protein expression in human endometrial epithelial cells may suggest the potential role of this soy isoflavone in stimulating the uterine immune function and probably attenuating the inflammation of endometrium following pathogen [79]. Isoflavonoids increase in uterine masses via uterine water imbibition and/or cell proliferation [75,80], which are mediated by ERα [81][82][83]. However, there had limitation in this study that the increase of estradiol level was not explained clearly, more detail mechanism should be studied in future.

Conclusions
Taken together, our results indicate that an appropriate mixed formula consisting of RC and PCP (RC:PCP 2:1, 1:1, and 4:1 mixtures) synergistically increased the anti-climacteric effects-estrogenic, antiobesity, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and antiosteoporotic effects-of RC-or PCP-alone in OVX induced mice. The RC:PCP 2:1 mixture, specifically, showed the most favorable inhibitory activities against estrogen-deficiency climacteric symptoms induced by OVX in this study. It is thus