• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.550-554
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to screen the testosterone-like activities of eight oriental medicines with an in vitro testosterone compound detection (TCD) system. Distilled water and 80% ethanol, both at 80℃, were used to obtain extracts from Cervus nippon temminck (Nokgaksang), Cynanchum wilfordii (Baeksuo), Lespedeza cuneata (Yagwanmun), Panax ginseng (Hongsam), Smilax china (Toryeong), Taraxacum platycarpum (Mindlre), Tribulus terresteis (Namgase), and Trigonella foenum-graecum (Horopa), and extracts at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml were assessed using the TCD system. The testosterone-like activities of the 80% ethanol extracts were seen to increase with concentration and ranged from 0.9 to 5.0 times higher than those of the negative control; Horopa and Yagwanmun exhibited superior testosterone-like activities, followed by Mindlre and Hongsam at the same concentration. Toryeong and Namgase, on the other hand, showed low activity with Nokgaksang and Baeksuo exhibiting very low levels. Compared with the activities of the positive control (5α-DHT), the 80% ethanol extracts of Horopa and Yagwanmun at a concentration of 500 ㎍/ml showed higher testosterone-like activities than 10^-8 M 5α-DHT. The water extracts showed lower activity levels than the ethanol samples, and the change of activity with concentration was also lower. It was confirmed that the 80% ethanol extracts of Horopa, Yagwanmun, and Mindlre etc. enhance the transcription efficiency of testosterone-related genes and may therefore be useful in developing health food or medicinal treatments for the improvement of male menopausal symptoms.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.21 no.2 s.60
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study finds out the effect of red ginseng extract (1.0g/kg) on TBTO (10, 20, and 40mg/kg) which poisons against some organs like thyroids gland, liver, kidney, testis, ovary, sex hormone activity of rats are examined by gastric tubing for 3 weeks. The weight of each organ in treated group were increased, especially liver in female and those of testis in males were significantly increased at 10, 20 and 40mg/kg (P<0.05, P<0.01). In case of sex hormone activity of each sex, the estradiol activity of female and testosterone activity of males were significantly decreased rather than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01) According to between the TBTO treated group and 10+ rGe group of the testosterone activity each sex were significantly increased (P<0.01).

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1159-1163
• /
• 2019

Although there is a growing interest in male menopause, a phenomenon associated with male hormone depletion, current kits using antibodies to quantify male hormones are expensive. In this study, we constructed an in vitro system for verifying the activity or concentration of male steroid hormones using a transcriptional activity test. A reporter plasmid, pGL2-Neo-ARE-AdE1BTATA, which reacts to testosterone, was constructed. In this plasmid, the ARE-AdE1bTATA sequences can be bounded by the testosterone - androgen receptor complex to express luciferase as a reporter. Then, a stable transfection was performed on the human prostate cancer cell line, LNcap-LN3. The constructed LNcap-LN3/pGL2-Neo-ARE-AdE1BTATA testosterone compound detection (TCD) system showed quantitatively proportional luciferase activities to concentrations of $10^{-13}$ to $10^{-8}M$ of standard testosterone. The established in vitro TCD system will contribute to the development of materials for health/functional foods and drugs as it will be possible to search en masse for testosterone-like or testosterone-inhibiting substances derived from natural materials.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.89-93
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study finds out the effect of red ginseng extract(1.0 g/kg) on bis(tributyltin)oxide(TBTO)(10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) which poisons against some organs like thyroid gland, liver, kidney, testis, ovary. Serum immunity and sex hormone activity of rats are examined by gastric tubing for 3 weeks. The weights of each in treated group were increased, especially liver in females and those of testis in males were signignificantly increased at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg (P<0.05, P<0.01). In group treated with TBTO(10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) for females, the serum IgG level was significantly reduced in comparison with control group(P<0.05). The group of females which were poisonned by TBTO and rGe was significantly recovered in TBTO 10 mg/kg + rGe 1.0 g/kg and TBTO 20 mg/kg + rGe 1.0 g/kg. In case of sex hormone activity of each sex, the estradiol activity of females and testosterone activity of males were signignificantly decreased rather than the control group. And control group by bis(tributyltin) oxide and red ginseng extract is just increased estiradiol activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.86-95
• /
• 2006

The ethanol extract of the Crotalaria juncea seeds, which showed promising antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities in albino mice, was taken up further for the isolation of the active fractions present in it. Two fractions that were obtained from thin layer chromatography were subjected for testing to know their antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities. After preliminary trials the fraction I showed maximum antifertility activity at the dose level of 200 mg/kg body weight when administered orally to the rats for 50 days. The fraction I was found to affect spermatogenesis as well as the endocrine functions of the testis as indicated by gravimetric, histopathological and biochemical changes. Further this fraction has caused degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of the testis. The accessory reproductive organs like epididymis, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, prostrate, Cowper's gland and Levator Ani muscle showed significant malfunction. Cauda epididymal sperm count and sperm motility were reduced significantly. The treatment has also resulted in increase in the cholesterol level and alkaline phosphatase activity, and decrease in protein, glycogen, sialic acid contents and acid phosphatase activity in testis. It is noteworthy that RIA studies have shown significant reduction in serum FSH, LH and testosterone. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed abnormalities in sperm structure.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.103-107
• /
• 2001

The equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) subunits $\alpha$ and ${\beta}$ are transcribed from different genes and associate noncovalently to form the bioactive eCG heterodimer. Dimerization is rate limiting for eCG secretion, and dissociation leads to hormone inactivation. The correct conformation of the heterodimer is alto important for efficient secretion, hormone-specific post-translational modifications, receptor binding and signal transduction. To determine whether ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ subunits can be synthesized as a single polypeptide chain (tethered-eCG) and also display biological activity, the tethered-eCG molecule by fusing the carboxyl terminus of the eCG ${\beta}$-subunit to the amino terminus of the af-subunit was construe-ted and transfected into chinese hamster ovary (CHO-Kl) cells. LH- and FSH-like activities were assayed in terms of testosterone production and aromatase activity in primary cultured rat Leydig cells and granulosa cells, respectively. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG ${\alpha}$/${\beta}$ and native eCG. FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was also shown similarly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG ${\alpha}$/${\beta}$. Our data for the first time suggest that the tethered-eCG can be expressed efficiently and the produced product by the CHO-K1 cells is fully LH- and FSH-like activities in rat in vitro bioassay system. Our results also suggest that this molecular can imply particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG. Taken together, these data indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 2001

This study was carried out effect of red ginseng extract(1.0g/kg) on organotin compounds (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) which poisons against some organs like thyroid gland, liver, kindey, testis, ovary, serum immuinty and sex hormone activity of rats were examinned by gastric tubing for 3 weeks. The weight of each organ in TBTO treated group were significantly increased other organs which excepted kinedy in males and only liver in females.(p<0.05, p<0.01). In case of Immunity activity of each sex, IgM level was small change comparsion with that of control group in all sex. but IgG level was significantly decreased females rather than males comparsion with that of control group.(p<0.05, p<0.01) In case of sex hormone activity, the testosterone activity of males and the estradiol activity of females were significantly decreased rather than the control group. on the other hand, red singsong treated group was only significantly increased estradiol activity.( p<0.05, p<0.01)

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2002

Substantial evidences have been accumulated about the hormone-like effects of exogenous substances such as pesticides and industrial chemicals during past years. The effects of these substances on the endocrine system are believed to be either enhancing or reducing of various endocrine action. It is necessary to identify putative causal agents by the batter system and to assess their ability to disrupt the endocrine system. A variety of in vitro and In vivo approaches have been used to determine the androgenic effects of environmental chemicals. To establish the method for assessment of the putative endocrine disruptors with androgenic activity, we carried out the cell proliferation assay by MTS method after treatment with the various concentration of testosterone in LNCaP cells (human prostatic cancer cell line) and also observed the expression of androgen-related genes by quantitative RT-PCR. In the cell proliferation assay, the results showed that the grouth of LNCaP cells increased within level of at least 10pM testosterone. We measured by quantitative RT-PCR method on the effects of testosterone on mRNA expression of androgen receptor (AR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and BMP receptor (BMPR) In LNCaP cells. The results demonstrated that mRNA expression of PSA and BMPR-IB was observed differently within level of at least 0.01 pM testosterone compared with non-treated control. These observations suggest that the detection of PSA and BMPR-IB mRNA by the quantitative RT-PCR in LNCaP cells is very sensitive method to identify the endocrine disruptors to have the androgenic effects.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.10.1-10.8
• /
• 2016

Objectives Aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen synthesis are a proven first-line hormonal therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer. Although it is known that standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) induces anti-carcinogenic effects like the aromatase inhibitors, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis have not been studied yet. Therefore, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis and aromatase activity was studied using a H295R cell model, which was a good in vitro model to predict effects on human adrenal steroidogenesis. Methods Cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, and $17{\beta}$-estradiol were evaluated in the H295R cells by competitive enzyme-linked immunospecific assay after exposure to EGb761. Real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate effects on critical genes in steroid hormone production, specifically cytochrome P450 (CYP11/ 17/19/21) and the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases ($3{\beta}$-HSD2 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1/4). Finally, aromatase activities were measured with a tritiated water-release assay and by western blotting analysis. Results H295R cells exposed to EGb761 (10 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) showed a significant decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone, but no change in aldosterone or cortisol. Genes (CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1) related to the estrogen steroidogenesis were significantly decreased by EGb761. EGb761 treatment of H295R cells resulted in a significant decrease of aromatase activity as measured by the direct and indirect assays. The coding sequence/Exon PII of CYP19 gene transcript and protein level of CYP19 were significantly decreased by EGb761. Conclusions These results suggest that EGb761 could regulate steroidogenesis-related genes such as CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1, and lead to a decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone. The present study provides good information on potential therapeutic effects of EGb761 on estrogen dependent breast cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.207-214
• /
• 2008

This study was designed to investigate the suitability of the pubertal assay and the enhanced TG 407 as methods for detection of endocrine-mediated effects, especially thyroid function. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged daily with 0, 12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg alachlor in corn oil during 30 days. The effects of alachlor on thyroid gland, the genital organs and thyroid hormone were measured in male and female rats. Dose of alachlor 25, 50 mg/kg/day increased relative weight of testis and thyroid gland in exposed male rats and decreased relative weight of vagina in exposed female rats. Relative weight of thyroid gland was decreased in alachlor 25 mg/kg/day exposed female rats. Dose of alachlor 25, 50 mg/kg/day decreased plasma T4 and testosterone in female rats. Another purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of endocrine disruptors as like thyroid hormone in vitro. Luciferase activity was measured to dectect reaction of test chemicals and thyroid hormone response elements in HeLaTRE cell. Dose of alachlor 1 nM-1000 nM increased 100-134% luciferase activity compared with control.