Background: Menopause is the cessation of menstrual loss in women due to
ovarian activity in providing the steroid sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Phytoestrogens are natural composition of the plant that has similar structure with
estradiol, the most potent of a natural form of estrogen. Plants containing
isoflavone compound is soybean plants and red beans.
Research Objectives: To determine estrogenic activity of red bean extract (Vigna
angularis) in mature female wistar rats.
Research Methods: The research was carried out in vivo using vaginal
cornification assay and uterotrophic assay. The research was carried out on 30
female white rats of Wistar strain immature that were randomly divided into 6
groups, each consisting of 5 rats. The first was a group of rats treated red bean
dose of 10 mg / kgBB, the second group was the red bean dose of 100 mg / kgBB,
the third group was the red bean dose of 1000 mg / kgBB, group four were
positive control group who were given 17β-estradiol, the group five was the
negative control group were given Na.CMC 1%, and the sixth group was soybean
dose of 10 mg / kgBB. Vaginal cornification assay method was done by
identifying the cells under a light microscope and uterotrophic assay was done by
weighing the wet and dry uterine.
Results: Extracts of red beans (Vigna angularis) exhibited estrogenic activity
against immature wistar female rats, based on the observation of cornified cells
and changes in the uterus weight at the highest dose of the extract of red beans
(1000 mg / kgBB). There were differences in the number of cornified cells and
uterine weights of red bean extract from the lowest dose to the highest dose, and
also in the group given soy extract.
Conclusion: Extracts of red beans (Vigna angularis) exhibited estrogenic activity
based on the difference in the number of cornified cells of each dose, and the
results of uterotrophic assay also possessed a difference in uterine weight.