In this study, Leydig cells were purified from 70 day-old Sprague Dawley male rats and incubated with 10 and 100 mg/mL
of methanol ext. of Basella alba (MEBa) for 4 h followed by the evaluation of cell viability, steroid (testosterone and
estradiol) prodn., and the level of aromatase mRNA. Results showed that MEBa did not affect Leydig cell viability. At
the concn. of 10 mg/mL, MEBa significantly stimulated testosterone and estradiol prodn. (p < 0.01 and p < 0.03, resp.),
and enhanced aromatase mRNA level (p < 0.04). These observations suggest that MEBa directly stimulated
testosterone, estradiol and aromatase mRNA levels in isolated Leydig cells.