Prunella vulgaris Extract Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating Androgen Levels, Cell Proliferation, and Apoptosis

• Published in: Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 17; no. 11; p. 1516
• Main Authors: Kumbukgahadeniya, Poornima, Baek, Eun-Bok, Hong, Eun-Ju, Song, Jun-Yeop, Kwak, Youn-Gil, Jang, Mi-Ran, Ji, Hyo-Seong, Kwun, Hyo-Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 11-11-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Androgens; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Cancer therapies; Cell cycle; Cell growth; Enzymes; Hyperplasia; Insulin-like growth factors; Kinases; Prostate; Side effects; Testosterone; Tuberculosis; Europe
• DOI: 10.3390/ph17111516
• EISSN: 1424-8247

Background/Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent urological condition affecting elderly men. Prunella vulgaris L. (PV), a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. In this study, we determined the effect of PV extract on the development of BPH. Methods: Rats were treated via a daily hypodermic injection of testosterone propionate (TP; 3 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Groups of BPH rats were treated with or without PV (60 or 80 mg/kg) by oral gavage. Results: In BPH model rats, PV considerably reduced their relative prostate weight and serum concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone. The TP-induced increases in epithelial thickness in the prostate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, and cyclin D1 expression were remarkably reduced, whereas terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3 levels were increased, in PV-treated rats compared to BPH rats. The mRNA expression levels of growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-2), were significantly reduced in PV-treated rats. Mechanistically, the TP-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was reduced by PV administration. Conclusions: These results designate that PV effectively ameliorates the development of testosterone-induced BPH through anti-androgenic, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic activities, suggesting that it could be a potential therapeutic substance for BPH.