The average life expectancy has continuously increased with the development of medicine. However, Some of men have been suffered from the insufficient secretion of testosterone causing by physical factors, social and psychological factors. Testosterone is an essential steroid hormone controlling male reproductive function. Alternative medicines in plants, fungi, and insects have been studied to enhance sexuality. In the present study, we determined the effect of an acorn pollen and Cordyceps militaris fruiting body on testosterone concentration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Eighteen rats per group were housed to regular diet or diet supplemented with acorn pollen powder or fruiting body power for 4 weeks. Serum was collected from 6 rats per group. Results showed that changes of the body weight, food and water intake of the rats were not observed in this study. However, acorn pollen powder and Cordyceps militaris fruiting body significantly stimulated testosterone production (p < 0.05) compared to the control, respectively. Hence, it suggests that acorn pollen or Cordyceps militaris fruiting body might be developed as a complementary medicine to improve sexual hormones.

• In-Pyo Hong(National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea)
• Soon-Ok Woo( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Soon-Ok Woo
• Sang-Mi Han( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Sang-Mi Han
• Yong-Soo Choi( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Yong-Soo Choi
• Nam-Suk Kim( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Nam-Suk Kim
• Hye-Kyung Kim( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Hye-Kyung Kim
• Sang-Hoon Han( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Sang-Hoon Han
• Kyu-Ho Byeon( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Kyu-Ho Byeon
• Man-Young Lee( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Man-Young Lee
• Myeong-Lyeol Lee( National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Rep. of Korea) | Myeong-Lyeol Lee