Modulating testosterone pathway: a new strategy to tackle male skin aging?

Abstract

In men, the level of testosterone decreases with age. At the skin level, the result is observed as a decrease in density and in a lower elasticity. Identifying compounds that are able to increase the level of testosterone appears to be an attractive strategy to develop new antiaging bioactive ingredients for men. Reverse pharmacognosy was successfully applied to identify new natural compounds able to modulate testosterone levels. Among several in silico hits, honokiol was retained as a candidate as it has the greatest potential to become an active ingredient. This result was then validated in vitro on aromatase and 5-alpha-reductase type 1 and 2, which are two types of enzymes implicated in the degradation of free testosterone. Indeed, honokiol was identified as an inhibitor of aromatase, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of about 50 μM. In addition, honokiol was shown to be an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase type 1, with an IC50 of about 75 μM. Taken together, these data indicate that honokiol modulates testosterone levels, and its structure has the potential to serve as a lead for future designs of highly selective inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase type 1.

High Serum Level of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) Correlates Positively with The Severity of Photoaging Facial Wrinkles

“…These results are in accordance with research conducted by Latreille et al, 2012 which found 1655 men and 1264 women that there was no significant relationship between photoaging and gender [13]. In men, moisture, skin elasticity, and skin thickness are influenced by the hormone testosterone, while in women the most important role in regulating skin physiology, targeting keratocytes, fibroblasts, melanocytes, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands as well as increasing angiogenesis, wound healing, and an immune response is the hormone estrogen [14,15].…”

A System Biology Approach Reveals New Targets for Human Thyroid Gland Toxicity in Embryos and Adult Individuals

“…Honokiol, the molecular constituent of Magnolia officinalis Rehder et Wilson or Magnolia grandiflora L., is a Chinese medicinal plant [82]. Its pharmacological effects include antiinflammatory, antithrombotic, antiarrhythmic, antioxidative, central depressant, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic effects [82].…”

“…Honokiol, the molecular constituent of Magnolia officinalis Rehder et Wilson or Magnolia grandiflora L., is a Chinese medicinal plant [82]. Its pharmacological effects include antiinflammatory, antithrombotic, antiarrhythmic, antioxidative, central depressant, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic effects [82]. In the endocrine system, honokiol activates the ERK/cfos signaling pathway, increases levels [83], increases the mRNA expression of glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus [84], improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic db/db mice [85], and inhibits 5-alpha-reductase type 1, modulating testosterone levels in vitro [82].…”

Trends in the Use of Botanicals in Anti-Aging Cosmetics

“…Reactive oxygen species (ROS) Generated during oxidative cell metabolism, mostly at mitochondria [14,15]; DNA damage Telomer shortening, gene loss, decreased DNA methylation and phosphorylation reaction, decreased DNA repair, oncogene and tumor suppressor gene deregulation [16,17]. Hormonal changes Estrogen decline during menopause, testosterone decline both in men and women [18,19].…”