Effect of Benincasa Hispida Fruits on Testosterone-induced Prostatic Hypertrophy in Albino Rats

Overview

Journal Curr Ther Res Clin Exp

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2014 Apr 2

PMID 24688153

Citations 3

Authors

Chetan Nandecha

Alok Nahata

Vinod Kumar Dixit

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Benincasa hispida Cogn. has been used traditionally in India for the management of urinary disorders. The fruit of B hispida is used as a diuretic and the seeds have been reported to possess antiangiogenic effects in prostate cells.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of petroleum ether extract, ethanolic extract, and B hispida seed oil on hyperplasia of the prostate induced by the subcutaneous administration of testosterone in rats.

Methods: In vitro studies were performed to determine the 5α-reductase inhibitory potential of the extracts. The results of those studies paved the way for the pharmacologic screening of the extracts to assess their potential against testosterone-induced hyperplasia in rats. Nine groups containing 10 rats per group were created for this study. Hyperplasia was induced by administration of testosterone (3 mg/kg SC) for 14 days in all the groups except the vehicle-treated group. Simultaneous administration of petroleum ether extract (100 or 200 mg/kg PO), ethanolic extract (100 or 200 mg/kg PO), and B hispida seed oil (20 or 40 mg/kg PO) was conducted. A standard 5α-reductase inhibitor (ie, finasteride) was used as a positive control. The weight of the rats was recorded on day 0 (ie, day 1 of the study) and on day 14, and the influence of testosterone and test extracts on the weight of the rats was determined. On day 14, rats were euthanized; prostates were dissected out, and weighed. The rats' prostate/body weight (P/BW) ratio was then determined. Histologic examinations were performed on prostates from each group.

Results: The petroleum ether extract as well as B hispida seed oil exhibited inhibition of 5α-reductase activity in in vitro studies. Ethanolic extract did not exhibit significant inhibitory potential in vitro. Further in vivo study found that testosterone treatment significantly increased the rats' P/BW ratio in all the groups except the vehicle-treated rats, and this increase in weight was significantly inhibited in rats administered petroleum ether extract (100 and 200 mg/kg PO) and B hispida seed oil (20 and 40 mg/kg PO). Ethanolic extract did not exhibit any significant activity.

Conclusions: Petroleum ether extract and B hispida seed oil inhibited testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate in these rats. Further studies are needed to evaluate its effect in humans with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

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