Modulation of oxidative stress associated with experimentally-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats by Zapoteca portoricensis root extracts

The existence of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), characterized by elevation in markers of oxidative stress/lipid peroxidation (8-hydroxyguanosine, malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxynonenal) and reduction in antioxidant status (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione) is scientifically documented. We hypothesize that a good treatment regimen for BPH should return the pro-oxidant/antioxidant status to normal; hence, pro-oxidant/antioxidant status is an indirect indicator of treatment response. In this study, the effect of crude methanol extract (CME) of Zapoteca portoricensis root and its methanol (MF) and ethyl acetate (EAF) fractions on the pro-oxidant/antioxidant status of experimentally-induced BPH was investigated. Forty-five Wistar albino rats (7 weeks, 180-200 g) used in this study were divided into nine groups (n = 5). Group 1 served as normal control. BPH was induced in groups 2-9 by daily subcutaneous administration of dihydrotestosterone (400 μg/ml) and estradiol (80 μg/ml) for 28 days. Group 2 served as BPH-control (was left untreated) while group 3 received dutesteride (Avodart®). Groups 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and 8 and 9 received, by gavage 200 and 400 mg/kg/d b.w. of CME, 200 and 400 mg/kg/d b.w. of MF, and 200 and 400 mg/kg/d b.w. of EAF, respectively for 14 days. There were increased prostatic specific (PSA) and malondialdehyde but reduced antioxidant status in BPH-control relative to normal control. At 400 mg/kg/d b.w, CME, MF and EAF decreased prostatic specific antigen by 55.91%, 57.54% and 56.75%, respectively comparable to 58.80% by dutesteride. In addition, the results of histological assessment of prostate tissues of the experimental rats fed extracts demonstrate an improved prostate status. The extracts returned the pro-oxidant/antioxidant status modified by BPH to normal. These findings may justify the plant’s folkloric use and suggest that extracts can be exploited further as potential source of entities for managing BPH.