With aging, men inevitably encounter irreversible changes, including progressive loss of testosterone and physical strength, and increased fat mass. To assess the alleviatory effects of EUAJ on andropause symptoms, including in vivo testosterone deficiency, we administered EUAJ for 6 weeks in 22-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Before EUAJ (3:1) (E. ulmoides:A. japonica = 3:1, KGC08EA) administration, testosterone decline in 22-week-old SD rats was confirmed compared to 7-week-old SD rats (NC group). After administration of EUAJ (3:1) at 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg for 6 weeks, testosterone, free testosterone, and mRNA expression levels (Cyp11a1 and Hsd3b1) were significantly increased at 40 mg/kg EUAJ (3:1), whereas mRNA expression levels of Cyp19a1 and Srd5a2 were significantly reduced at this concentration, compared to the control group. Swimming retention time was significantly increased at both 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg. In summary, EUAJ (3:1) enhanced testosterone production by increasing bioavailable testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and enzymes related to testosterone synthesis at 40 mg/kg. In addition, 80 mg/kg EUAJ (3:1) also increased physical and testicular functions.

Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and function which are influenced by certain factors such as aging, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic diseases. Despite numerous efforts to prevent or treat sarcopenia, effective therapeutic options for this disease remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the effects of KGC01CE treatment, a mixture of Cervus elaphus (Ce) and Eucommia ulmoides (Eu), which are well-known traditional herbal medicines in Asia, on age-related muscle loss and functional decline in aged rats. KGC01CE has been found to be more effective than the individual extracts in inhibiting dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy and improving muscle mass and grip strength in C2C12 cells and aged rats. Moreover, animal studies were conducted to determine the minimum effective dose, and a 12-week oral administration of KGC01CE treatment at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg to 15-month-old aged rats resulted in a dose-dependent increase in lean mass, muscle mass, grip strength, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), which had decreased due to aging. Furthermore, it was shown that KGC01CE activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and inhibited the expression of muscle-degrading proteins MuRF, Atrogin-1, and myostatin. These results suggest that KGC01CE treatment may effectively prevent muscle loss and functional decline, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for sarcopenia.

This study investigated the gastroprotective effects of a formulation combining extracts of Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (PZ) in a mouse model of water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS)-induced gastritis. In an exploratory ratio-screening experiment, the 3:1 ginseng-to-ginger formulation significantly reduced gastric hemorrhagic lesions relative to the WIRS group and was therefore selected as a representative active formulation for subsequent dose-ranging and mechanistic studies. Because this screening was exploratory, the 3:1 formulation was selected based on its activity relative to the WIRS group rather than on a formal comparison of superiority among the formulations. Seven-day oral administration of the selected formulation significantly reduced gastric interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 protein abundance relative to the DW-treated WIRS group. The formulation also reduced lipid peroxidation and increased glutathione peroxidase activity, consistent with enhanced antioxidant defense. The formulation did not significantly affect the mRNA expression of M3R, H2R, or CCK2R. However, these findings alone are insufficient to evaluate actual gastric acid-secretory function, and because gastric acid secretion was not directly measured, it remains unclear whether modulation of acid secretion contributed to the gastroprotective effects of PZ. Collectively, the selected 3:1 ginseng–ginger formulation attenuated gastric hemorrhagic lesions, inflammation, and lipid peroxidation while enhancing antioxidant defense in male mice subjected to acute WIRS. These findings may serve as preclinical evidence supporting the potential gastroprotective effects of PZ against acute stress-induced gastric injury. Nevertheless, the present findings do not establish clinical efficacy, safety, an appropriate human intake, or benefits for maintaining gastric health. Evaluation of the clinical applicability of PZ will require validation of its efficacy and safety in longer-term studies and etiologically distinct animal models, followed by pharmacokinetic and bioavailability assessments and appropriately designed clinical trials.