■ DISCUSSION
Our present study demonstrates that long-term treatment with
C. comosa extracts is capable of preventing altered endotheliumdependent
relaxation in the vasculature of OVX rats. This
prevention was associated with the preservation of key signaling
molecules for estrogenic action in vascular tissues including
eNOS, ERα, and TNF-α during estrogen deficiency. The
underlying mechanism for the effect of C. comosa appears to be
mediated by the estrogenic activity of C. comosa compounds
binding to ER as well as through anti-inflammatory activities.