Protective effects of Chromolaena odorata extract on experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease in dogs and man leading to prostate enlargement which impinges on the urethra causing urinary outflow obstruction. Due to the side effects of surgery and chemotherapy used for the treatment of this disease, attention is now focused on phytotherapeutics for its management. Thus, we investigated the inhibitory effect of hydro-methanol extract of Chromolaena odorata (HMECO) on testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH rat model. A total of forty-two 10-12 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley outbred albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing 200 - 250 g were randomly divided into six equal groups of seven rats each based on body weight as follows: A) Control group given phosphate-buffered saline orally and corn oil subcutaneously (SC) once daily, B) TP at a dose of 3.00 mg kg-1 SC once daily, C) TP at a dose of 3.00 mg kg-1 SC and finasteride at a dose of 10.00 mg kg-1 orally once daily, D) TP at a dose of 3.00 mg kg-1 SC plus 200 mg kg-1 HMECO orally once daily, E) TP at a dose of 3.00 mg kg-1 SC plus 400 mg kg-1 HMECO orally once daily and F) TP at a dose of 3.00 mg kg-1 SC plus 800 mg kg-1 HMECO orally once daily for 28 days. Results showed that HMECO significantly reduced prostate weight, prostatic index; serum levels of testosterone and prostatic epithelial thickness and increased luminal diameter in BPH induced rats. Thus, the results of this study suggest that C. odorata is a potential pharmacological candidate for the management of BPH.