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Planta Med 2003; 69(5): 459-461
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39717
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Torilin from Torilis japonica, as a New Inhibitor of Testosterone 5α-Reductase

Won Seok Park1 , Eui Dong Son1 , Gae Won Nam1 , Soo Hyun Kim1 , Min Soo Noh1 , Byeong Gon Lee1 , Ih Seop Jang1 , Se Eun Kim2 , Jung Joon Lee2 , Chang Hoon Lee1
  • 1Skin Research Team, Skin Research Institute, Pacific R&D Center Kiheung-eup, Yongin-si, Kyoungg-do, Korea
  • 2Anticancer Research Laboratory, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Taejon, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

Received: September 13, 2002

Accepted: February 9, 2003

Publication Date:
12 June 2003 (online)

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Abstract

The methanolic extract of the fruits of Torilis japonica showed a potent inhibition against 5α-reductase activity in vitro. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of the fruits followed by repeated silica gel chromatography led to the isolation of an active principle and its structure was identified as torilin on the basis of spectroscopic data. Torilin (IC50 = 31.7 ± 4.23 μM) showed a stronger inhibition of 5α-reductase than α-linolenic acid (IC50 = 160.3 ± 24.62 μM) but was weaker than finasteride. (IC50 = 0.38 ± 0.06 μM). Simple guaiane-type compounds, such as (-)-guaiol and guaiazulene showed weak inhibitory effects on the 5α-reductase activity with IC50 values of f 81.6 μM and 100.8 μM, respectively, while azulene was not active. These results suggest that both degrees of unsaturation and the side-chain in the guaiane skeleton are important for the manifestation of 5α-reductase inhibition.

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Dr. Chang Hoon Lee

Skin Research Institute

Pacific R&D Center

314-1 Bora-ri

Kiheung-eup

Yongin-si

Kyoungg-do

Korea

Fax: +82-31-282-6063

Email: chlee@pacific.co.kr