title: Effects of the methanol extract of Basella alba L (Basellaceae) on steroid production in Leydig cells.
abstract: In this study, Leydig cells were purified from 70 day-old Sprague Dawley male rats and incubated with 10 and 100 μg/mL of methanol extract of Basella alba (MEBa) for 4 hours followed by the evaluation of cell viability, steroid (testosterone and estradiol) production, and the level of aromatase mRNA. Results showed that MEBa did not affect Leydig cell viability. At the concentration of 10 μg/mL, MEBa significantly stimulated testosterone and estradiol production (p < 0.01 and p < 0.03, respectively), and enhanced aromatase mRNA level (p < 0.04). These observations suggest that MEBa directly stimulated testosterone, estradiol and aromatase mRNA levels in isolated Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé I, PO. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon; E-Mails: akonoed@yahoo.fr (E.A.N.); faustinpascal@yahoo.fr (F.-P.T.M.).
authors.forename: Edouard Akono
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nantia
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Travert
authors.forename: Faustin-Pascal T
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Manfo
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carreau
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Monsees
authors.forename: Paul Fewou
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Moundipa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase; D000432:Methanol