Effect of Aqueous Extract of Vernonia amygdalina on Biochemical Indices of Prostate Functions in Hormonal Induced Enlarged Prostate in Rats

Background: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological disorder in elderly men. We investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) on BPH.

Methods: BPH was induced in male rats weighing 250-350 g. Testosterone propionate (T) and estradiol valerate (E2) were used for the induction at a dose of 400 µG T and 80 µG E2 respectively. This was administered to the rats for three weeks subcutaneously in the inguinal region. A total of 30 rats were divided into five groups. One group was used as a control and the other groups received subcutaneous injections of the hormones for 3 weeks to induce BPH. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with different doses of VA extracts and group 3 received finasteride, all by gavages for forty-five days, while group 4 was left untreated, group 5 served as normal control. After forty-five days of treatment with VA extract, the rats were anaesthetised by short contact with trichloromethane vapour. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and the sera cautiously centrifuged and used for the determination of different biochemical indices. The prostate was harvested and weighed. The harvested prostate were processed for paraffin embedding and stained with H and E.

Results: Treatment with the extract and finasteride resulted to significant (P < 0.05) decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), estradiol and prolactin, testosterone and protein content of the prostate when compared to BPH control. Prostate weight was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in treated groups compared to BPH control. This was supported by the histological examination.

Conclusion: Therefore, Vernonia amygdalina was effective in reducing PSA, prolactin, testosterone, estradiol and prostate weight induced BPH in a rat model, and may be useful for the clinical treatment of patients with BPH.