An inhibitory effect of Berberine from herbal Coptis chinensis Franch on rat detrusor contraction in benign prostatic hyperplasia associated with lower urinary tract symptoms

Ethnopharmacological relevance Coptis chinensis Franch (CCF), also known as Huang Lian in China, is a traditional Chinese medicine that commonly used for more than 2000 years. Clinically, CCF often used as anti-inflammatory, immune regulation and other effects. It has been reported that the decoction containing CCF can be used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Aim of the study: This research aims to investigate the effect of CCF on inhibition of BPH development in vivo and in vitro, and further identify the active compound (s) and the possible mechanism involved in BPH-related bladder dysfunction. Materials and methods Oestrodial/testosterone-induced BPH rat model was established as the in vivo model. The prostate index (PI) was calculated, the pathogenesis was analyzed and the micturition parameters were determined in the shamed-operated, BPH model and BPH + CCF groups after 4-week administration. The tension in detrusor strips was then assessed upon KCl or ACh stimulation with or without incubation of CCF or active compounds. To further investigate the signaling involved, rat detrusor cells were cultured as the in vitro models, the instantaneous calcium influx was measured and the ROCK-1 expression was detected. Results Increased PI value and the aggravated prostatic pathology were observed with voiding dysfunction in BPH rats, which were significantly blocked by oral CCF taken. ACh or KCl-induced contractile responses in detrusor strips were significantly inhibited and the micturition parameters were improved when incubation with CCF or its active compounds such as berberine. Both CCF and berberine suppressed the cellular calcium influx and ROCK-1 expression upon ACh stimulation, demonstrating that berberine was one of the active compounds that contributed to CCF-improved micturition symptoms and function. Conclusions Taken together, our findings give evidence that CCF and its active compound berberine inhibited BPH and bladder dysfunction via Ca2+ and ROCK signaling, supporting their clinical use for BPH and BPH-related LUTS treatment.