Improvement of Menopausal Symptoms by <i>Beta vulgaris</i> , <i>Artemisia princeps</i> , and <i>Eleutherococcus senticosus</i> via Estrogen Pathway Activation in <scp>MCF</scp> ‐7 Cells and <scp>OVX</scp> Mice

Menopause, a natural transition marked by estrogen decline, is a growing public health concern because it impairs quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely employed to alleviate menopausal symptoms, including osteoporosis, uterine atrophy, vaginal dryness, fat redistribution, and increased cardiovascular risk, but use is limited by adverse effects including hormonal imbalance and increased cancer risk. As potential alternatives, plant-derived phytoestrogens are actively investigated, yet validated candidate extracts remain scarce. Here we evaluated the estrogenic activity of three extracts-<i>Beta vulgaris</i>, <i>Artemisia princeps</i>, and <i>Eleutherococcus senticosus</i>-using ER-positive MCF-7 cells and an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. From an initial screen, three extracts induced estrogen-mediated proliferation in ER-positive MCF-7 cells. In OVX mice, efficacy varied by phenotype: <i>B. vulgaris</i> and <i>A. princeps</i> produced more pronounced improvements, whereas <i>E. senticosus</i> was less effective on several endpoints. Mechanistically, <i>B. vulgaris</i> and <i>A. princeps</i> engaged both genomic and non-genomic estrogen signaling, while <i>E. senticosus</i> showed inconsistent activation, suggesting a more limited or alternative mode of action. Overall, efficacy varied across extracts: <i>E. senticosus</i> had modest activity, whereas <i>B. vulgaris</i> and <i>A. princeps</i> produced robust, reproducible improvements, making them promising for plant-based management of menopausal symptoms.