article · Journal of Innovations in Medical Research
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a frequent urological condition affecting older men, prompting interest in botanical agents that might halt disease progression without severe toxicity. An investigation evaluated the impact of an aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus at three dosage levels on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in adult male Wistar rats. The animals were separated into controlled experimental groups receiving testosterone alongside low, moderate, or high doses of the extract, or the pharmaceutical comparator finasteride. Prostatic tissue was assessed on day thirty-two using immunohistochemical markers of cell proliferation, specifically Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Proliferation markers rose significantly in testosterone-exposed rats, whereas administration of the plant extract significantly reduced cell numbers compared to the untreated testosterone group. Overall, the plant extract exhibited a protective effect against androgen-induced prostate growth in the test model.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a prevalent disorder in ageing men that often requires long-term management or surgery. Current pharmaceutical treatments can produce unwanted systemic side effects. Discovering botanical alternatives that slow prostate cell proliferation could support the search for safer therapeutic options. This study provides experimental evidence in a rodent model that lemongrass extract can suppress cellular markers associated with prostate enlargement.
This research is relevant to pharmaceutical and botanical drug developers investigating complementary therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The findings represent early-stage preclinical animal research, meaning practical commercial application remains distant. Developing a viable product would require identifying active chemical constituents, conducting pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies, establishing standardised formulations, and demonstrating safety and efficacy in human clinical trials.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Benign Prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common androgen associated urologic surgical disorder among the middle-aged and elderly. Certain phytotherapeutic agents have been discovered to halt its progression and improve the symptoms without causing toxic effect on the body system. This study evaluated the effects of three different doses (low, moderate and high) of Cymbopogon citratus aqueous extract (CCAE) on testosterone induced-BPH in adult Wistar rats. Thirty-six (36) rats aged 10-12 weeks, weighing 100-120g were randomly divided into six (6) groups containing 6 rats each. Group 1 rats were given standard nutrition and drinks throughout the experiment. The rats in groups 2-6 had 10mg/kg body weight of testosterone propionate (TP) once daily. In addition to that, group 3-6 had 30mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 300mg/kg per oral once daily of CCAE and 15mg/kg of finasteride per oral once daily respectively. On the 32nd day of the experiment the rats were sacrificed using cervical dislocation. The prostates were harvested and preserved for immunohistochemistry. Immunological study showed a significant increase in Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling scores in the positive control relative to the negative control, while there was a significant (≤0.05) decrease in the number of cells in post-treated CCEA group compared to positive control. Only groups 5 and 4 showed significant (P≥0.05) increase in Ki67 and PCNA labelling respectively when compared to the standard drug group. This study hence shows that CCEA exerts a protective effect on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.56397/jimr/2025.02.01
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
