Therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines in experimental autoimmune prostatitis mouse model

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is commonly used as a therapeutic purpose for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This study aims to explore the pharmacological effects and the preliminary mechanism of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis (CPC), and Earthworm in the CP/CPPS model. A total of 50 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., control, model, Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis, and Earthworm groups. All groups except the control group were subcutaneously injected 0.2ml of T2 peptide immunoemulsion on days 0 and 14 to induced experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP). After the successful induction of EAP, except for the control and model groups, other groups were treated by Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., CPC, and Earthworm, respectively. Micturition habits and pain response of mice were measured on -1day, 28day, and 56day for each group. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was used to investigate prostate inflammation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) measured the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. group significantly reduced the number of urine spots and frequency of pain response compared to the model group. Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. group and CPC group significantly reduced inflammatory lesion and inflammatory cell infiltration than Earthworm groups. The serum level of TNF-α in Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. and CPC groups were significantly reduced as compared to the model group. Our results demonstrated that Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. has a more significant effect than CPC and Earthworm for EAP treatment, which improves urinary tract symptoms, increased pain threshold, and reduce inflammation.