ABSTRACT
Steroids, including testosterone, estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol and 17β-ethinyl estradiol, are harmful not only to the population dynamics of aquatic life forms but also to public health. In this study, a marine testosterone-degrading bacterium (strain N3) was isolated from Nanao Island in the South China Sea. In addition, the strain could also use 17β-estradiol (E2), 17β-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), estriol (E3) or cholesterol as a sole carbon source. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain N3 was identified as Vibrio sp. Further characterization showed that the strain is aerobic, gram-negative, and mobile and exhibits resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, penicillin and spectinomycin. For enhancing its capacity of testosterone degradation, the Plackett-Burman factorial design and the central composite design were used to optimize the culture condition. Under optimal conditions, 92% of testosterone was degraded by Vibrio sp. N3 in 48 h.
Los esferoides-que incluyen la testosterona, la estrona, el 17 β-estradiol, el estriol y el 17 p-etinilestradiol-son nocivos no solo para la población dinámica de las formas de vida acuática, sino también para la salud pública. En este estudio se aisló una bacteria marina degradadora de testosterona de la isla de Nanao, en el Mar del Sur de China, a la que se denominó cepa N3. Se determinó que esta cepa también podría usar 17 β-estradiol (E2), 17 p-etinilestradiol (EE2), estriol (E3) o colesterol como únicas fuentes de carbono. De acuerdo con el análisis de la secuencia del gen 16S rRNA, la cepa N3 se identificó como Vibrio sp. La caracterización adicional mostró que dicha bacteria es un organismo aerobio, gram negativo y móvil, y que presenta resistencia a ampicilina, carbenicilina, penicilina y espectinomicina. Para optimizar la condición de cultivo en relación con su capacidad de degradar la testosterona, se utilizaron el diseño factorial Plackett-Burman y el diseno compuesto central. En condiciones óptimas, el 92% de la testosterona fue degradada por Vibrio sp. N3 en 48 h.
Subject(s)
Testosterone/antagonists & inhibitors , Vibrio/isolation & purification , Vibrio/genetics , Marine Environment/analysis , Sequence Analysis/methodsABSTRACT
The incidence of and mortality from prostatic cancer in the West is higher than that in Asian countries. Migrants from Asia to western countries, who maintain their traditional diet, do not have an increased risk of prostatic cancer. This has been attributed in part to 'phyto-oestrogens' in vegetarian Asian diets. Prostatic cancer is a hormone-dependent disease and oestrogens retard the growth of prostatic tumours by interfering with the action of testosterone. Oestrogen increases the level of sex hormone-binding globulin that binds testosterone, resulting in lower free testosterone levels, thereby decreasing androgenic stimulation of the prostate. Oestrogens used to retard the growth of prostatic cancer are associated with certain undesirable side-effects. Phyto-oestrogens have weak oestrogenic potency and anticancer effects. Thus, these phytochemicals have a possible role in the prevention of hormone-dependent diseases such as prostatic cancer. Although the relative potencies of various phyto-oestrogens compared with oestradiol are low, the oestrogen receptor (ER) complexes formed byoestradiol and isoflavones have functional similarities. Also, phyto-oestrogens have a higher affinity to bind to ER-beta than ER-alpha. They are antiproliferative and inhibit tyrosine and other protein kinases which play a key role in tumorigenesis, and also inhibit the production of the potent androgen 5alpha dihydrotestosterone in the prostate. Since prostatic cancer cells usually multiply slowly and the development of this cancer can take many years before symptoms appear, the latent period provides a chemopreventive opportunity for natural therapy with phyto-oestrogens. Although phyto-oestrogens have not yet been used in long-term trials to evaluate their ability to reduce the risk of prostate carcinoma, the evidence thus far suggests that they have a protective effect against the growth of prostate tumours.
Subject(s)
Asian People , Chemoprevention , Diet, Vegetarian , Emigration and Immigration , Humans , Isoflavones/pharmacology , Lignans/pharmacology , Male , Phytoestrogens , Plant Preparations/pharmacology , Prostatic Neoplasms/diet therapy , Testosterone/antagonists & inhibitorsABSTRACT
Cannabis extract caused a marked reduction in the body weight and in the weights of seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, epididymis, preputial gland and perineal complex (Penis and its bulb and levator ani muscle) of castrated adult male mice. Cannabis extract administration in combination with testosterone propionate (TP) inhibited growth stimulation produced by TP alone. Anti-androgenic nature of the compound is suggested.