Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12(1), 376-384; doi:10.3390/ijms12010376
Article

Effects of the Methanol Extract of Basella alba L (Basellaceae) on Steroid Production in Leydig Cells

Edouard Akono Nantia 1 email, Carine Travert 2 email, Faustin-Pascal T. Manfo 1 email, Serge Carreau 2 email, Thomas K. Monsees 3 email and Paul Fewou Moundipa 1,* email
1 Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé I, PO. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon 2 Biochemistry Laboratory-EA 2608-USC INRA 2006, IBFA, University of Caen, 14032, Caen, France 3 Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 10 December 2010; in revised form: 21 December 2010 / Accepted: 8 January 2011 / Published: 14 January 2011
(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics)
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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.
Keywords: aromatase mRNA; Basella alba; estradiol; rat Leydig cells; testosterone

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nantia, E.A.; Travert, C.; Manfo, F.-P.; Carreau, S.; Monsees, T.K.; Fewou Moundipa, P. Effects of the Methanol Extract of Basella alba L (Basellaceae) on Steroid Production in Leydig Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12, 376-384.

AMA Style

Nantia EA, Travert C, Manfo F-P, Carreau S, Monsees TK, Fewou Moundipa P. Effects of the Methanol Extract of Basella alba L (Basellaceae) on Steroid Production in Leydig Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2011; 12(1):376-384.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nantia, Edouard Akono; Travert, Carine; Manfo, Faustin-Pascal T.; Carreau, Serge; Monsees, Thomas K.; Fewou Moundipa, Paul. 2011. "Effects of the Methanol Extract of Basella alba L (Basellaceae) on Steroid Production in Leydig Cells." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 12, no. 1: 376-384.

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