Effect of methanol extract of Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br tuber and its fractions on indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance Many ethnopharmacological properties (anti-tumor, etc.) have been credited to Plectranthus esculentus tuber but the scientific basis has not been established.Aim of the study: To evaluate the effect of methanol extract of P. esculentus tuber (MEPET) (phase 1) and its fractions (phase 2) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats Materials and methods The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1, thirty-five male albino rats (6 weeks old) were divided into seven groups of five rats each: normal control (NC) received olive oil (subcutaneously) and water (orally); disease control (DC) received testosterone propionate (TP) (3 mg/kg) and water; test groups (1,2,3 and 4) received TP + MEPET at 100, 200, 400, 600 mg/kg respectively; positive control, received TP + finasteride (5 mg/70 kg). After 28 days, their relative prostate weights (RPW) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were determined. Phase 2, thirty rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each: NC received olive oil (subcutaneously daily) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (orally); DC received TP (3 mg/kg), and DMSO; test group 1 received TP and aqueous fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); test group 2 received TP and methanol fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); test group 3 received TP, and ethyl acetate fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); positive control received TP and finasteride (5 mg/70 kg). After 28 days, their erythrocyte sedimentation rates, RPW, prostate levels of PSA, DHT, inflammatory, apoptotic markers and prostate histology were determined. Results Ethyl acetate fraction of MEPET modulated most of the parameters of BPH in the rats in a manner akin to finasteride as corroborated by prostate histology. Conclusions EFPET could be useful in the treatment of BPH.