Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body Extract Decreases Testosterone Catabolism and Testosterone-Stimulated Prostate Hypertrophy.

Kazuya Kusama,Hiroaki Miyaoka,Mayuko Miyagawa,Koichiro Ota,Kaori Saeki,Tomoyasu Aizawa,Kazuhiro Tamura,Toyokazu Nakasone,Shigemi Okamatsu,Yuki Ohnishi,Yasuhiro Kumaki,Naoko Kuwabara

doi:10.3390/nu13010050

Abstract

The androgens testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are essential for a variety of systemic functions in mature males. Alteration of these hormones results in late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The fruit bodies of fungi of the genus Cordyceps have been regarded as folk medicine or health food with tonic and antifatigue effects. The extract from the fruit body of Cordyceps militaris parasitizing Samia cynthia ricini (CM) was evaluated as a novel-candidate natural product for ameliorating male andropause symptoms. To explore the effects of CM on LOH and BPH, CM was applied to rat models and cultured testicular cells and prostate cells. The concentrations of androgens in the serum and culture media were determined by ELISA. Expression of steroidogenic enzymes and androgen-related genes was evaluated by qPCR, and prostatic cell proliferation was assessed with the cell-viability assay. CM maintained the serum levels of testosterone and DHT, but inhibited testosterone-induced prostate hypertrophy. CM also increased the secretion of testosterone and DHT by primary testicular cells, with no changes in the mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes, but decreased the growth of prostatic cell lines. Our data suggest that CM could improve both LOH and BPH in males.

Highlights

Middle-aged and older males who present with symptoms including avolition, muscle pain, hot flashes, and loss of libido are regarded to have male menopausal disorders, and these symptoms are often accompanied by significant reductions in serum androgen levels [1]
We examined whether the extract of Samia cynthia ricini-derived Cordyceps militaris affects androgen metabolism and production using animal models of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), as well as in vitro cultured cells
Solution NMR was used as the preliminary analysis to identify the principal compounds in the extract of Cordyceps militaris from Samia cynthia ricini

Summary

Introduction

Middle-aged and older males who present with symptoms including avolition, muscle pain, hot flashes, and loss of libido are regarded to have male menopausal disorders, and these symptoms are often accompanied by significant reductions in serum androgen levels [1]. Middle-aged and elderly males frequently exhibit the symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH), which is caused by androgen failure due to aging. The pathological decrease in androgen levels in LOH is caused by age-related dysfunction of testicular. Prostate hypertrophy causes urinary tract symptoms such as frequent urination and residual urine [4]. Various factors such as aging, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormonal changes are involved in the pathogenesis of BPH [5,6], but the etiology is not fully understood.

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Conclusion