Androgenic action of Tinospora cordifolia ethanolic extract in prostate cancer cell line LNCaP

Aim of the studyRecently, Tinospora cordifolia (TC) was shown to affect prostate growth in rats. It is not known whether this is a direct effect of TC or whether it is induced by altered hormone release. To investigate the actions of TC on the prostate, human LNCaP cells were exposed to an ethanolic extract of TC.Materials and MethodsLNCaP cells were incubated with the test substances for 48 h. Proliferation was measured by MTT test and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) secretion was determined with ELISA.ResultsTC showed a dose-dependent stimulation of proliferation of LNCaP cells. Co-incubation with the anti-androgen flutamide (FLU) reversed the TC-induced stimulation of PSA secretion.ConclusionsThe reference compound dihydrotestosterone (DHT) caused a significant increase of growth of LNCaP cells. Similarly, TC stimulated proliferation of these prostate cells. The anti-androgen FLU reversed the increase of PSA release caused by either DHT or TC. Thus, we suggest that TC may contain androgenic compounds, which appear to act via androgen receptor (AR).