Journal Article

Cynanchum wilfordii Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-Reductase and Androgen Receptor Activities in a Rat Model

Choi, Hakjoon, Choi, Chulyung, Jo, Ara, Bae, Donghyuck, Pan, SangO, Lee, Yongwook, Lee, Gyuok, Shin, Jawon

2017

Overview

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of the prostate gland. Cynanchum wilfordii has been reported to improve sexual behavior in male rats. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of an aqueous extract of C. wilfordii (CWW) against BPH development in a testosterone-induced BPH rat model. The rats were divided into the following six groups: sham/vehicle; BPH/vehicle; BPH/finasteride; and three CWW doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). After a 4-week treatment with CWW, the rats were euthanized at scheduled times, and their prostates were weighed, followed by a histopathological examination. Prostate growth inhibition rates in rats administered CWW 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg were 54.5%, 51.8%, and 50.1%, respectively. The BPH/CWW group showed decreased serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels compared to the BPH/vehicle group. Furthermore, the BPH/CWW group showed reduced prostate testosterone and DHT levels compared to the BPH/vehicle group. Mechanistically, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed downregulated mRNA expression levels of the androgen receptor, 5α-reductase, and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the BPH/CWW200 group compared with those in the testosterone-induced groups. In conclusion, these findings show the effectiveness of CWW in slowing the progression of testosterone-induced BPH in rats.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors - isolation & purification / 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology / Androgen Receptor Antagonists - isolation & purification / Androgen Receptor Antagonists - pharmacology / androgen receptors / Androgens / animal models / Animals / B-lymphocytes / blood serum / Cell Proliferation - drug effects / Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase - genetics / Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase - metabolism / Cynanchum - chemistry / Cynanchum wilfordii / dihydrotestosterone / Disease Models, Animal / Dose-Response Relationship, Drug / enzymes / gene expression / gene expression regulation / Genital diseases / growth retardation / histopathology / hyperplasia / Male / males / Organ Size / Plant Extracts - isolation & purification / Plant Extracts - pharmacology / Plant Roots / Prostate / Prostate - drug effects / Prostate - enzymology / Prostate - pathology / prostate gland / Prostate-Specific Antigen - blood / Prostatic Hyperplasia - chemically induced / Prostatic Hyperplasia - enzymology / Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology / Prostatic Hyperplasia - prevention & control / protective effect / Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics / Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism / rats / Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Receptors, Androgen - drug effects / Receptors, Androgen - genetics / Receptors, Androgen - metabolism / reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction / Rodents / sexual behavior / Testosterone / Time Factors