Abstract
Toona sinensis is a well-known nutritious plant food widely distributed in Asia. The effects of aqueous leaf extracts of T. sinensis (TSL-1) on steroidogenesis was examined using primary rat adrenal cells. TSL-1 stimulated corticosterone production in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Cells were then challenged with forskolin, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), pregnenolone, progesterone or deoxycorticosterone in the presence or absence of TSL-1 for 6 h to determine the mechanism. TSL-1 could enhance forskolin- and dbcAMP-induced steroidogenesis and promote pregnenolone-, progesterone- and deoxycorticosterone-induced steroidogenesis. Moreover, TSL-1 induced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mRNA and protein expression in rat adrenal cells and increased StAR promoter activity in CHO-K1 cells. Thus, the stimulatory effect of TSL-1 was presumed to be mainly due to methyl and ethyl gallates. Therefore, TSL-1-stimulated corticosterone production requires the participation of cAMP-dependent PKA, steroidogenic enzymes and the expression of StAR, which regulates the rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
