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Abstract: Testosterone and its highly active metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT) play a role in the development and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (CaP). 5α-reductase, which catalyzes the conversion of testosterone to DHT, has been a target of manipulation in the treatment of BPH and CaP. Because of the potential for adverse side effects in using synthetic 5α-reductase inhibitors, current research focuses on developing 5α-reductase inhibitors from natural sources. In East Asia, the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum has been used for centuries in medicine. We conducted a study using liver microsomes of the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat and SD rat BPH model to determine if extracts of G. lucidum exerted 5α-reductase inhibitory and BPH suppressi ve activities. Nineteen species of mushrooms were extracted with methanol and 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of the extract was assayed at a concentration of 200 ppm. Among the fungi tested, extracts of G. lucidum showed the highest activity, significantly inhibiting the growth of the ventral prostate induced by testosterone in castrated rats.
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