Nutr Res Pract.  2012 Dec;6(6):505-512.

Improvement of andropause symptoms by dandelion and rooibos extract complex CRS-10 in aging male

• Noh YH
• Kim DH
• Kim JY
• Park J
• Kim OH
• Han D
• Kim WY
• Kim SS
• Lee MY
• Heo SH
• Kim M
• Lee WB
• Jeong Y
• Myung SC

Abstract

Many aging male suffer various andropause symptoms including loss of physical and mental activities. This study evaluated the putative alleviative effects of CRS-10 dandelion and rooibos extract complex (CRS-10) on the symptoms of andropause. The survival rate of TM3 Leydig cells (TM3 cells) treated with CRS-10 was measured based on typical physiological stress. After daily intake of CRS-10 for 4 weeks, the level of testosterone, physical activity and both the number and activity of sperm in older rats (18 weeks) were measured. Furthermore, thirty males were surveyed with AMS (Aging Males' Symptoms) questionnaire after intake of 400 mg of CRS-10. Overall, CRS-10 protected TM3 cells from serum restriction and oxidative stress via activation of ERK and Akt pathways. The level of testosterone and activation of spermatogenesis in rats were significantly enhanced. In addition, physical locomotion was markedly improved. Daily intake of 400 mg of CRS-10 improved the quality of life among agingmale respondents, according to a clinical survey using the AMS. The results indicate the potential of CRS-10 as a safe and efficacious natural substance for reducing or alleviating andropause symptoms.

Keyword

Leydig cell; testosterone; CRS-10; spermatogenesis; andropause

MeSH Terms

Aging
Andropause
Animals
Aspalathus
Humans
Leydig Cells
Locomotion
Male
Motor Activity
Oxidative Stress
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Rats
Spermatogenesis
Spermatozoa
Stress, Physiological
Survival Rate
Taraxacum
Testosterone
Testosterone

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Protective effect of CRS-10 against low serum-stress. The cell viability was determined biochemically, using Alamar Blue assay, at 24 h after replacement with 1% FBS-containing medium (A). The photographs represent the optical phase contrast microscopic morphology (B). The values are mean ± SE of four separate independent experiments. The difference from the cells incubated with 10% serum was statistically significant *P < 0.05.

• 

  Fig. 2 Protective effects of CRS-10 against H2O2. TM3 cells were treated with 40 µM of H2O2 for 2 h. The cells were pretreated with either CRS-10 or dandelion or rooibos 2 h before H2O2 treatment. The cell viability was determined biochemically using the Alamar Blue assay. Open bar is the cell viability of non-treated TM3 cells in 10% FBS-medium. The difference from the cells treated with H2O2 alone (black bar) was statistically significant *P < 0.05.

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  Fig. 3 Enhanced activation of ERK and Akt by CRS-10 may protect TM3 cells against H2O2. After 24 h of treatment, CRS-10 treatment enhanced the activation of ERK and Akt (A). The cells were pretreated with either 10 µM PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) or 10 µM LY294002 (Akt inhibitor) 2 h before CRS-10 and H2O2 co-treatments. The cell viability was determined biochemically using the Alamar Blue assay. The difference from the cells treated with H2O2 alone was statistically significant *P < 0.05 (B). ERK, Extracellular signal-regulated kinases.

• 

  Fig. 4 Increased serum testosterone level by CRS-10. Testosterone level in the serum represents the mean ± SE. The serum testosterone levels before and after administration of CRS-10 were compared using one-way ANOVA (A). The solid bar shows the percentage of serum testosterone level of CRS-10 and placebo groups compared with the baseline (B). Significant differences are denoted by * vs. before, P < 0.05 and † vs. control, P < 0.05.

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  Fig. 5 Positive role of CRS-10 in the enhancement of physical activity. To evaluate the enhancement of physical function by CRS-10, Rotarod and swimming retention test were performed. The rats were trained with rotarod and swimming exercise 30 min a day for 30 days. Running time on the wheel is presented as the mean ± SE (A). Retention time, swimming time without stop for 10 sec, was determined weekly (B). Significant differences are denoted by * vs. before, P < 0.05 and † vs. control, P < 0.05.

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  Fig. 6 Enhanced spermatogenesis and sperm activity by CRS-10. Number of sperm before and after administration of CRS-10 was compared using one-way ANOVA (A). Activated sperms by CRS-10, which can maintain movement after 5 min of medium incubation, were counted (B). These improvements by CRS-10 were presented as the percentage compared with the baseline (C). Significant differences are denoted by * P < 0.05.

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  Fig. 7 Improved AMS score by 400 mg/day CRS-10. AMS questionnaire was completed at 0 and 4 weeks. Scores of the AMS answersare presented as mean ± SE (A). The scores before and after administration of CRS-10 were compared using one-way ANOVA. The solid bar shows the percentage of the AMS score of CRS-10 and placebo groups compared with the baseline (B). Significant differences are denoted by * (P < 0.05). AMS, Aging Males' Symptoms.

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