Inhibition of Testosterone-Induced Hyperplasia of the Prostate of Sprague-Dawley Rats by Pumpkin Seed Oil

Abstract

The oil from the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed is claimed to be useful in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This investigation seeks to examine the effect of pumpkin seed oil on testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate of rats. Hyperplasia was induced by subcutaneous administration of testosterone (0.3 mg/100 g of body weight) for 20 days. Simultaneous oral administration of either pumpkin seed oil (2.0 and 4.0 mg/100 g of body weight) or corn oil (vehicle) was also given for 20 days. The weights of the rats were recorded weekly, and the influence of testosterone and pumpkin seed oil on the weight gain of the rats was examined. On day 21, rats were sacrificed, and the prostate was removed, cleaned, and weighed. The prostate size ratio (prostate weight/rat body weight) was then calculated. Neither testosterone nor pumpkin seed oil had any significant influence on the weight gain of the rats. Testosterone significantly increased prostate size ratio (P < .05), and this induced increase was inhibited in rats fed with pumpkin seed oil at 2.0 mg/100 g of body weight. The protective effect of pumpkin seed oil was significant at the higher pumpkin seed oil dose (P < .02). We conclude pumpkin seed oil can inhibit testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate and therefore may be beneficial in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Review of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

“…The enlarged prostate affects the urethra, and therefore BPH is associated with diminution in urinary function [48]. Management of this disease to include pumpk seeds suggested that the actions of pumpkin seed oil may be attributed to the content of phytosterols, which are known to interfere with the actions of dihydrotestosterone.…”

“…Administration of pumpkin seeds oil (14 mg/kg) daily for 30 days inhibited testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the rat prostate involving a direct inhibition of growth of the prostate [48].…”

Effects of Pumpkin Seed in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in the One-Year, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled GRANU Study

“…The oral administration of high doses of pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil reduced prostate weight in experimental animal models of prostate growth [3,8,9,10]. The injection of pumpkin seed oil caused reproducible effects on urodynamic parameters in rabbits [11].…”

Oil and Tocopherol Content and Composition of Pumpkin Seed Oil in 12 Cultivars

“…Pumpkin seed oil has been implicated in providing many health benefits (66). The most critical health benefit attributed to pumpkin seed oil is preventing the growth and reducing the size of the prostate (67,68). There is also evidence that suggests pumpkin seed oil can retard the progression of hypertension (69) and mitigate hypercholesterolemia (70) and arthritis (71).…”