Planta Med 2011; 77 - PF19
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282407

The effects of ethanol extract of Raphia hookeri seed on exogenous testosterone and estradiol induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in adult male rats

GO Mbaka 1, SO Ogbonnia 2, O Olawunmi 3
  • 1Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Idi- Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
  • 3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Remo Campus, Ikenne, Nigeria

The activity of Raphia hookeri G.Mann & H.Wendl. (RH) seed extract used locally in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was investigated on exogenous induced prostatic enlargement.

Adult male rats weighing 200±10g/kg were induced with BPH by exogenous administration of testosterone and estradiol in staggered doses (three times a week) for three weeks (1). The induced animals were divided into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 received the extract at 50 and 100mg/kg body weight by gavages for forty five days; group 3- fenasteride (0.1mg/kg); group 4- was left untreated for forty five days; group 5- (negative control) was sacrificed immediately after induction. Group 6- received the extract (100mg/kg) and the steroid hormones simultaneously while group -7 was normal control. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels were determined from blood serum. The oxidative activity; Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) were assayed as described by Rukkumani et al,(2).

The result showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in PSA level in RH treated compared to the negative control. There was also decrease in testosterone level in RH treated. The levels of CAT and SOD (Table 1) in RH treated were comparable to normal. However, GSH showed comparably higher level to normal while the extract peroxidative activities decrease slight. Prostatic tissue morphology of the extract treated (Fig.1) showed extensive shrinkage while hypertrophy of prostate gland occurred in the untreated (Fig.2).

RH effectively reduced enlarged prostate mass, lowered PSA and testosterone levels and also exhibited anti-oxidative activity.

Acknowledgement: Prince Musibau Sikiru, herbalist, Ogun State, Nigeria assisted with the plant material.

References: (1) Bernoulli J (2008) An experimental model of prostatic inflammation for drug discovery. Medica – Odontologica. (2) Rukkumani R et al. (2004J Pharm Sci 7(2): 274–283.