title: Trichosanthes kirilowiiExerts Androgenic Activity via Regulation of PSA and KLK2 in 22Rv1 Prostate Cancer Cells.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herbal extracts ofTrichosanthes kirilowii(TK),Asarum sieboldii(AS),Sanguisorba officinalis(SO), andXanthium strumarium(XS) were selected to have androgenic effects based on a preliminaryin vitroscreening 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, TK-enhanced AR-mediated transcriptional activity might be an attractive candidate drug for treating androgen-related diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trichosantheskirilowii (TK), Asarumsieboldii (AS), Sanguisorbaofficinalis (SO), and Xanthium strumarium (XS) enhanced the proliferation of 22Rv1 cells without having cytotoxic effects.TK, AS, SO, and XS increased androgen receptor (AR)-induced transcriptional activity.TK, but not AS, SO, or XS, produced a significant inhibition against AR-binding activity.TK treatment positively regulated mRNA expression of the AR-related molecular targets prostate-specific antigen and kallikrein 2.Abbreviations used:BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia; AR: androgen receptor; DHT: dihydrotestosterone; PSA: prostate-specific antigen; TK: Trichosanthes kirilowii; AS: Asarum sieboldii; SO: Sanguisorba officinalis; XS: Xanthium strumarium; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; FBS: fetal bovine serum; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; SD: standard deviation; ARE: androgenresponsive element; KLK: kallikrein.
authors.affiliation: KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Deajeon, Republic of Korea; Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Deajeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Seob
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Deajeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeun-Kyoo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
keywords: 22Rv1 cells; Androgen; Trichosantheskirilowii; androgen receptor; transcription