Effects of elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) extract on testosterone synthesis in TM3 Leydig cells

Abstract

This work investigated the effects of Allium ampeloprasum extract (AME) on testosterone synthesis in TM3 Leydig cells under hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress. AME showed no increment of cell proliferation in the oxidatively stressed cells. Testosterone level lowered when the cells were treated with H2O2, but increased in the presence of AME. To determine the effect of AME on the testosterone biosynthetic pathway, we examined the expression level of the proteins involved in the synthesis or degradation of testosterone. The protein expression levels of CYP11A1, 3β-HSD2 and 17β-HSD3 (which are involved in testosterone synthesis) were decreased by H2O2 but increased by the AME treatment. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of 5α-reductase2 and aromatase (which are involved in testosterone degradation) were increased by H2O2 but decreased by the AME treatment. In conclusion, AME increased the testosterone level by increasing the expression of testosterone synthetase and decreasing the expression of the testosterone converting enzyme in TM3 Leydig cells under H2O2-induced oxidative stress. These results indicated that AME can alleviate andropause syndrome by restoring testosterone.

Investigation of Potential cGMP-Specific PDE V and Aminopeptidase N Inhibitors of Allium ampeloprasum L. and Its Bioactive Components: Kinetic and Molecular Docking Studies

“…Elephant garlic, Allium ampeloprasum L. grown in Uiseong-gun in Korea, was provided by Hyundai F&B Co., Ltd., Anseong-si, Republic of Korea, an agricultural corporation. Allium ampeloprasum L. was extracted by a previously described method [4]. The elephant garlic was peeled, washed with running water, and naturally dried.…”

“…Male menopause is mainly caused by a decrease in testosterone and body aging, resulting from abnormal changes in the endocrine system [1,2]. Male menopausal symptoms include not only sexual function decline closely related to the decrease in testosterone but also decrease in sperm production, increase in insulin resistance, increase in visceral fat, decrease in physical function due to decrease in muscle mass and bone density, decrease in cognitive ability and spatial perception, fatigue, nervousness, and depression [3,4]. The male menopausal symptoms have a considerable negative impact on the health-related quality of life, affecting physical, mental, and social aspects in men.…”

“…It has been reported that the white bulb of elephant garlic contains a large amount of polyphenols such as kaempferol (KAE), quercetin (QUE), and sulfur compounds such as isoalliin (IA), methiin (MT), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), and diallyl disulfide (DADS) [17][18][19]. A potential of Allium ampeloprasum L. for improving various symptoms of menopause involving androgenic effects, increasing testosterone production, reducing obesity, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and enhancing antioxidant effects have been reported [4,14,[20][21][22][23][24], and they are being used for commercialization in the food material for men's health and the related functional food market worldwide [14,25,26], but related scientific evidence is still lacking. We analyzed the inhibitory effect of APN and PDE5 on the bio-active substances diallyl trisulfide, diallyl disulfide, kaempferol, quercetin, methiin, and isoalliin contained in elephant garlic, Allium ampeloprasum L., and performed a kinetic study using various kinetic parameter and molecular docking analysis by the binding energy scores and simulation software.…”