Dr. Park Jun Hong and his team at the Herbal Medicine Resource Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, have discovered that a substance in Thyme, also known as Spicebush, helps improve male menopausal disorders. Cell and animal experiments revealed that this substance stimulates the production of male hormones.
Traditionally, Thyme has been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat conditions such as colds, coughs, bronchitis, indigestion, toothaches, and arthritis, but its use has recently decreased.
The researchers first conducted cell experiments to verify the effect of Thyme extract on male hormone production. They treated Leydig cells, which produce male hormones, with thyme extract and observed a significant increase in testosterone production. Leydig cells are hormone-producing cells found in the testicles, primarily responsible for the synthesis and secretion of testosterone.
The treatment with this extract increased the activity of crucial genes involved in testosterone production, mainly boosting the expression of the Cytochrome P450 gene group by 150 to 200%, which is essential for male hormone production.
They also administered the Thyme extract to 50-week-old rats, equivalent to humans aged 45 to 60, and examined its physiological effects. As a result, testosterone production increased by 200% compared to the control group, without any significant change in the weight of the testes and epididymis. The researchers explained, “We also confirmed a significant increase in the activity of the Cytochrome P450 gene group, an essential factor for male hormone production, in these animal experiments.”
Park stated, “We have discovered a new path for treating male menopausal symptoms using familiar herbal materials,” adding, “We aim to develop effective therapeutic substances for treating male menopausal disorders through further research, contributing to the improvement of public health.”
Meanwhile, the research team announced the effects of the Thyme extract in the internationally renowned journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.
