Pregnenolone as an Effective Prohormone for Multiple Therapeutic Uses
Keywords:
pregnenolone, sex hormones, steroid hormones, anti-ageing
Abstract
If there is a deficit of endogenous steroid hormones, chemical derivatives can be used. However, an endogenous prohormone of the steroid hormones, namely pregnenolone, could also be applied. It was discovered and synthesized 90 years ago. Since then, many publications have demonstrated its positive effects, as it enables the endocrine glands to increase the production of corticoids and sex hormones. It is also effective as a neurosteroid against brain disorders. The widespread use of pregnenolone is therefore indicated.
References
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Ducharme, N., Banks, W. A., Morley, J. E., Robinson, S. M., Niehoff, M. L., & Mattern, C. (2010). Brain distribution and behavioral effects of progesterone and pregnenolone after intranasal or intravenous administration. European Journal of Pharmacology, 641(2-3), 128-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.05.033
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Mayo, W., Lemaire, V., Malaterre, J., Rodriguez, J. J., Cayre, M., Stewart, M. G., ... & Abrous, D. N. (2005). Pregnenolone sulfate enhances neurogenesis and PSA-NCAM in young and aged hippocampus. Neurobiology of Aging, 26(1), 103-114.
McGavack, T. H., Chevalley, J., & Weissberg, J. (1951). The use of Δ5-pregnenolone in various clinical disorders. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, 11(6), 559-577.
Pincus, G., & Hoagland, H. (1944). Effects of administered pregnenolone on fatiguing psychomotor performance. J Aviation Med, 15, 98-115.
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Roberts, E. (1995). Pregnenolone—from Selye to Alzheimer and a model of the pregnenolone sulfate binding site on the GABAA receptor. Biochemical Pharmacology, 49(1), 1-16.
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Vallée, M., Mayo, W., & Le Moal, M. (2001). Role of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and their sulfate esters on learning and memory in cognitive aging. Brain Research Reviews, 37(1-3), 301-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0173(01)00135-7
Xiao, X., Chen, L., Ouyang, Y., Zhu, W., Qiu, P., Su, X., ... & Yan, G. (2014). Pregnenolone, a cholesterol metabolite, induces glioma cell apoptosis via activating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Oncology Letters, 8(2), 645-650. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2147
Butenandt, A., & Westphal, U. (1934). Zur Isolierung und Charakterisierung des Corpus‐luteum‐Hormons. Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft (A and B Series), 67(8), 1440-1442. https://doi.org/10.1002/cber.19340670831
Data sheet. (n.d.). 5-Pregnen-3β-ol-20-one. Retrieved from Sigma-Aldrich.
Ducharme, N., Banks, W. A., Morley, J. E., Robinson, S. M., Niehoff, M. L., & Mattern, C. (2010). Brain distribution and behavioral effects of progesterone and pregnenolone after intranasal or intravenous administration. European Journal of Pharmacology, 641(2-3), 128-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.05.033
Flood, J. F., Morley, J. E., & Roberts, E. (1992). Memory-enhancing effects in male mice of pregnenolone and steroids metabolically derived from it. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 89(5), 1567-1571.
Freeman, H., Pincus, G., Johnson, C. W., Bachrach, S., McCabe, G. E., & MacGilpin, H. A. R. O. L. D. (1950). Therapeutic Efficacy of Δ5-Pregnenolone in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Preliminary Observations. Journal of the American Medical Association, 142(15), 1124-1128.
Guest, C. M., Kammerer, W. H., Cecil, R. L., & Berson, S. A. (1950). Epinephrine, pregnenolone and testosterone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 143(4), 338-344.
Henderson, E., Weinberg, M., & Wright, W. A. (1950). Pregnenolone. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, 10(4), 455-474. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-10-4-455
Marx, C. E., Bradford, D. W., Hamer, R. M., Naylor, J. C., Allen, T. B., Lieberman, J. A., ... & Kilts, J. D. (2011). Pregnenolone as a novel therapeutic candidate in schizophrenia: emerging preclinical and clinical evidence. Neuroscience, 191, 78-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.076
Mayo, W., Lemaire, V., Malaterre, J., Rodriguez, J. J., Cayre, M., Stewart, M. G., ... & Abrous, D. N. (2005). Pregnenolone sulfate enhances neurogenesis and PSA-NCAM in young and aged hippocampus. Neurobiology of Aging, 26(1), 103-114.
McGavack, T. H., Chevalley, J., & Weissberg, J. (1951). The use of Δ5-pregnenolone in various clinical disorders. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, 11(6), 559-577.
Pincus, G., & Hoagland, H. (1944). Effects of administered pregnenolone on fatiguing psychomotor performance. J Aviation Med, 15, 98-115.
Pregnenolone biosynthesis. (n.d.). R-HSA-196108. Retrieved from Reactome.Org
Rassow, J., Hauser, K., Netzker, R., & Deutzmann, R. (2012). Biochemistry (3rd ed.). Thieme-Verlagsgruppe. ISBN 978-3-13-125353-8.
Roberts, E. (1995). Pregnenolone—from Selye to Alzheimer and a model of the pregnenolone sulfate binding site on the GABAA receptor. Biochemical Pharmacology, 49(1), 1-16.
Vallée, M. (2016). Neurosteroids and potential therapeutics: focus on pregnenolone. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 160, 78-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.09.030
Vallée, M., Mayo, W., & Le Moal, M. (2001). Role of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and their sulfate esters on learning and memory in cognitive aging. Brain Research Reviews, 37(1-3), 301-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0173(01)00135-7
Xiao, X., Chen, L., Ouyang, Y., Zhu, W., Qiu, P., Su, X., ... & Yan, G. (2014). Pregnenolone, a cholesterol metabolite, induces glioma cell apoptosis via activating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Oncology Letters, 8(2), 645-650. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2147
Published
2025-05-21
How to Cite
Doepp, M. (2025). Pregnenolone as an Effective Prohormone for Multiple Therapeutic Uses. European Journal of Science, Innovation and Technology, 5(3), 21-24. Retrieved from https://ejsit-journal.com/index.php/ejsit/article/view/656
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Copyright (c) 2025 Manfred Doepp
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