Aqueous extract of bitter leaf Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asterales: Asteraceae) ameliorates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Wistar rats

Abstract

Abstract. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-dependent condition involving prostate enlargement which may lead to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study was designed to study the ameliorative effect of the aqueous extract of bitter leaf Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asterales: Asteraceae) on testosterone-induced BPH in a rat model. Thirty adult male Wister rats were randomly divided into six groups (A to F), with BPH induced through a single subcutaneous injection of 5 mg/kg of testosterone propionate (TP) and Vernonia amygdalina administered in various doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Group A (control) was administered with distilled water only, group B with 5 mg/kg of TP only, group C with 5 g/mL of V. amygdalina only, group D with 5 mg/kg of TP and 5 g/mL of V. amygdalina, group E with 5 mg/kg of TP and 7.5 g/mL of V. amygdalina and group F with 5 mg/kg of TP and 10 g/ml of V. amygdalina. Results show that testosterone caused histological changes that are similar to the presentation of BPH in the prostate. Aqueous extract of V. amygdalina was observed to ameliorate testosterone-induced histological changes and prostatic parameters especially at higher concentration. This suggests that bitter leaf could be a candidate herb for the treatment of BPH.

Therapeutic Mechanisms of Vernonia amygdalina Delile in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

“…Vernonia amygdalina Delile (VAD) is an edible vegetable and a valuable medicinal plant that is widespread in Cameroon, Central West Africa. A recent study indicated that an aqueous extract of VAD ameliorated testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats [ 18 ]. Previously, Izevbigie (2003) reported that some peptides (edotides) from the aqueous extract of V. amygdalina showed cell growth-inhibitory effects in the prostate cancer cell line, but no effect on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells [ 19 ].…”