This study was conducted to evaluate the promoting effect of Ishige sinicola, an alga native to Jeju Island, Korea, on hair growth. When vibrissa follicles were cultured in the presence of I. sinicola extract for 21 days, I. sinicola extract increased hair-fiber length. After topical application of I. sinicola extract onto the back of C57BL/6 mice, anagen progression of the hair shaft was induc...

As neuronal development progresses, GABAergic synaptic transmission undergoes a defined program of reconfiguration. For example, GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated synaptic currents, (miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents; mIPSCs), which initially exhibit a relatively slow decay phase, become progressively reduced in duration, thereby supporting the temporal resolution required for mature ne...

Glucocorticoids and androgens have both been implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); androgen deficiency in males, androgen excess in females, and glucocorticoid excess in both sexes are associated with NAFLD. Glucocorticoid and androgen action are regulated at a prereceptor level by the enzyme 5α-reductase type 2 (SRD5A2), which inactivates glucocorticoids t...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the pathological cellular progression of glandular proliferation associated with aging. Current available treatment options for BPH have limitations and various adverse effects. Equol is a polyphenolic/isoflavonoid molecule derived from intestinal metabolism, dairy and dietary plant sources. It has the unique characteristic to bind specifically 5α-dihydrote...

In search of selective and effective anti-cancer agents, eight metabolites of anti-cancer steroid, drostanolone enanthate (1), were synthesized via microbial biotransformation. Enzymes such as reductase, oxidase, dehydrogenase, and hydrolase from Cephalosporium aphidicola, and Fusarium lini were likely involved in the biotransformation of 1 into new metabolites at pH 7.0 and 26°C, yielding five...

5α-Reductases irreversibly catalyse A-ring reduction of pregnene steroids, including glucocorticoids and androgens. Genetic disruption of 5α-reductase 1 in male mice impairs glucocorticoid clearance and predisposes to glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis upon metabolic challenge. However, it is unclear whether this is driven by changes in androgen and/or glucocorticoid action. Female mice ...

Carotenoids are known to be potent quenchers of singlet molecular oxygen [O(2) ((1)Δ(g))]. Solar light-induced photooxidative stress causes skin photoaging by accelerating the generation of reactive oxygen species via photodynamic actions in which O(2) ((1)Δ(g)) can be generated by energy transfer from excited sensitizers. Thus, dietary carotenoids seem to participate in the prevention of photo...

5-alpha reductase (5α-reductase) is a microsomal protein that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When changes occur in the function of this enzyme, disorders such as pseudohermaphroditism, baldness, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer may arise. Currently, there are only two marketed drugs, finasteride and dutasteride, for the therapy of benign prostatic hyperpla...

Objective. Bokusoku (BK) is an extract from the Quercus cortex used in folk medicine for treatment of skin disorders and convergence, and is present in jumihaidokuto, a traditional Japanese medicine that is prescribed for purulent skin diseases like acne vulgaris. The excess of sebum production induced by androgen is involved in the development of acne. Our aim is to examine whether BK and its ...

An improved synthesis route for obtaining known brassinosteroid analogues, i.e., methyl 2α,3α-dihydroxy-6-oxo-5α-cholan-24-oate (11), methyl 3α-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-oxa-5α-cholan-24-oate (15) and methyl 3α-hydroxy-6-oxa-7-oxo-5α-cholan-24-oate (16), from hyodeoxycholic acid (4) maintaining the native side chain is described. In the alternative procedure, the di-oxidized product 6, obtained in the ox...