Article · Volume 13, Issue 49 · pp. 153–8
Trichosanthes kirilowii Exerts Androgenic Activity via Regulation of PSA and KLK2 in 22Rv1 Prostate Cancer Cells
Soo-Jin Jeong1,2, Ji-Yoon Choi3, Mi-Sook Dong3, Chang-Seob Seo4, Hyeun-Kyoo Shin4
- 1KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Deajeon, Republic of Korea.
- 2Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
- 3School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- 4K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Deajeon, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
Background: The androgen comprises a group of hormones that play roles in male reproductive activity as well as personal characteristics.Objective: We investigated the androgenic activity of various herbal medicines in human prostate cancer 22Rv1 cells.Materials and Methods: Herbal extracts of Trichosanthes kirilowii (TK), Asarum sieboldii (AS), Sanguisorba officinalis (SO), and Xanthium strumarium (XS) were selected to have androgenic effects based on a preliminary in vitro screening system.Results: TK, AS, SO, and XS enhanced the proliferation of 22Rv1 cells without having cytotoxic effects. All tested herbal extracts increased androgen receptor (AR)-induced transcriptional activity in the absence or presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In an AR-binding assay, TK, but not AS, SO, or XS, produced a significant inhibition of AR binding activity, indicating it has androgenic activity. Additionally, TK treatment positively regulated mRNA expression of the AR-related molecular targets prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and kallikrein 2 (KLK2) compared with untreated control.Conclusion: Taken together, TK-enhanced AR-mediated transcriptional activity might be an attractive candidate drug for treating androgen-related diseases.
Keywords: Androgen; androgen receptor; transcription; Trichosanthes kirilowii; 22Rv1 cells
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