Inhibitory Effects of the Ethanol Extract of Viscum album var. coloratum on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of mistletoe extract (VA30E) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using in vitro and in vivo models. The in vitro study was performed in BPH-1 cells, wherein VA30E treatment at concentrations of 200 μg/mL decreased cell proliferation by 98.97%. VA30E dose-dependently reduced mRNA expression of the androgen receptors. The in vivo study was undertaken with seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Surgical castration was conducted to exclude endogenous testosterone (T) and the rats were divided into five groups; control, BPH, VA30E-50 [50 mg/kg of body weight (BW)/d], VA30E-150 (150 mg/kg of BW/d) and saw palmetto (positive control, 100 mg/kg of BW/d). The prostate size of the rats showed a decrease with the administration of VA30E compared to the BPH group. The prostate weight ratio (BW to prostate weight) also decreased in a dose-dependent manner by up to 13.04% in the VA30E-150 group (P<0.05). In addition, T and dihydrotestosterone levels were significantly reduced by 46.01% and 22.26%, respectively, in the VA30E-150 group compared to the BPH group. The 5-alpha reductase 2 levels were also significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner by the administration of VA30E. Taken together, these results suggest that VA30E could be used as a functional ingredient in the treatment of BPH symptoms.