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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
Published on: March 12, 2019
Effects of resveratrol on rat neurosteroid synthetic enzymes
Yiluan Wang1, Jianliang Sun1, Ling Chen2
1Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
Abstract:
Resveratrol, a common polyphenol, has extensive pharmacological activities. Resveratrol inhibits some steroid biosynthetic enzymes, indicating that it may block neurosteroid synthesis. The objective of the present study is to investigate the inhibition of resveratrol on neurosteroidogenic enzymes rat 5α-reductase 1 (SRD5A1), 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C9), and retinol dehydrogenase 2 (RDH2). The IC50 values of resveratrol on SRD5A1, AKR1C9, and RDH2 were >100μM, 0.436±0.070μM, and 4.889±0.062μM, respectively. Resveratrol competitively inhibited rat AKR1C9 and RDH2 against steroid substrates. Docking showed that resveratrol bound to the steroid binding pocket of AKR1C9. It exerted a mixed mode on these AKR1C9 and RDH2 against cofactors. In conclusion, resveratrol potently inhibited rat AKR1C9 and RDH2 to regulate local neurosteroid levels.
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