Schisandrol A and gomisin N from Schisandra chinensis extract improve hypogonadism via anti-oxidative stress in TM3 Leydig cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Male hypogonadism is a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone and significantly impacts health. Age, obesity, genetics, and oxidative stress are some physiological factors that may contribute to testosterone deficiency. Previous studies have shown many pharmacological benefits of Schisandra chinensis ( S. chinensis ) Baillon as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. However, the molecular mechanism of attenuating hypogonadism is yet to be well established. This research was undertaken to study the effects of S. chinensis extract (SCE) on testosterone deficiency. MATERIALS/METHODS S. chinensis fruit was pulverized and extracted using 60% aqueous ethanol. HPLC analysis was performed to analyze and quantify the lignans of the SCE. RESULTS The 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging assays confirmed that the SCE and its major lignans (schisandrol A and gomisin N) inhibit oxidative stress. Effects of SCE analysis on the testosterone level under oxidative stress conditions revealed that both schisandrol A and gomisin N were able to recover the lowered testosterone levels. Through mRNA expression of TM3 Leydig cell, we observed that the SCE lignans were able to induce the enzymes involved in testosterone biosynthesis-related genes such as 3β-HSD4 ( P < 0.01 for SCE, and P < 0.001 for schisandrol A and gomisin N), 17β-HSD3 ( P < 0.001 for SCE, schisandrol A and gomisin N), and 17, 20-desmolase ( P < 0.01 for schisandrol A, and P < 0.001 for SCE and gomisin N). CONCLUSIONS These results support that SCE and its active components could be potential therapeutic agents for regulating and increasing testosterone production.

Schisandrin C: An active compound from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis in anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation

“…In this study, we used a classical inflammatory cell model, LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, to examine the effects of SCE on anti-oxidation through ROS scavenging assay. Consistent with our previous DPPH and ABTS study, SCE is able to scavenge ROS (24). And of the five lignans, schisandrol A and GN are the higher active compounds in DPPH and ABTS.…”

“…Our previous study shows five lignans in S. chinensis; schisandrol A, schisandrol B, schisandrin A, GN, and Sch C. Further, the contents of GN and Sch C were determined 1.42% and 0.3%, respectively, in SCE. Among those five lignans from S. chinensis, schisandrol A and GN suppressed oxidative stress in H 2 O 2 -induced TM3 Leydig cells (24). In this study, we used a classical inflammatory cell model, LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, to examine the effects of SCE on anti-oxidation through ROS scavenging assay.…”

“…However, SCE remarkably reduced ROS levels in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001). Our previous HPLC data has shown five major compounds in SCE (24); thus, we evaluated the ability of various active compounds to inhibit free radicals. Among five compounds, GN and Sch C were the highest ROS scavenging active compounds (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001) (Fig.…”

An analysis of the nutritional effects of Schisandra chinensis components based on mass spectrometry technology

“…Further, the oxidative stress-induced decrease in testosterone biosynthesis related-genes by using both schisandrin B (syn. Gomisin N) and schisandrol A, which are a potential therapeutic agent for treating male hypogonadism ( 68 ).…”

Protective effect of gomisin N on BBP-induced dysfunction of testosterone production in TM3 Leydig cells

“…The ROS scavenging ability of the Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) and its compound were investigated using H 2 DCFDA. SCE was prepared according to the recent studies [25] and dissolved in DMSO at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 µg/mL. For GN, which has a common high ROS and ONOOscavenging activity among SCE compounds, we used it at nal concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 µM.…”