Chemotherapeutic Evaluation of Ethanol Extract of Chromolaena odorata on Biochemical Aberrations Associated with Experimentally-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Rats

Abstract

The sudden rise in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cases, severe side effects, and the high cost of conventional methods have necessitated the intensive search for alternative BPH management strategies. This study investigated the restorative effects of ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata (EECO) on testosterone-induced BPH in male albino rats. Thirty male albino rats with a weight range of 150-210 g were randomly distributed into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 was normal rats and not induced. Groups 2-6 were induced via daily subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg) for 28 days. After induction, group 2 received vehicle (carboxyl methylcellulose), group 3 received finasteride (1 mg/kg), while groups 4-6 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of EECO, respectively, for 21 days orally. Prostate and biochemical parameters were determined using standard methods. Treatments with EECO decreased the concentrations of prostate-sensitive antigen, dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, malondialdehyde, cholesterol, low-density cholesterol, and liver enzyme activities compared with BPH-control. Furthermore, there was increased superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in extract treated groups compared with BPH- control. The findings from this study showed that EECO inhibited testosterone-induced BPH anomalies, making it promising phytotherapy for the management of BPH in males.