ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer (PC) represents the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common leading cause of cancer deaths in males worldwide. Prostate cancer incidence increases from about 20 % in males in their sixties to about 70 % in males between the ages of 70 and 80 years. The current treatment options for PC include chemical and surgical castration with varying side effects such as muscle weakness and hot flashes, thereby necessitating alternative therapies. The present study was carried out to assess the ameliorative effects of ethanol root extract of Uvaria chamae (EREUC) on cadmium chloride-induced carcinogenic potentials in the prostate of adult male Wistar rats. Sixty (60) adult male rats were randomly divided into 10 groups with six rats in each group (n=6). Group 1 served as control; group 2 received 3 mg/kg body weight (BW) of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) only; Group 3-6 received 3 mg/kg BW of CdCl2 followed by 150 mg/kg BW of bicalutamide, 2500 mg/kg BW, 1500 mg/kg BW and 1000 mg/kg BW of EREUC respectively. Group 7 received 150 mg/kg BW of bicalutamide alone. Group 8-10 received 2500 mg/kg BW, 1500 mg/kg BW and 1000 mg/kg BW of EREUC only, respectively. Administration of CdCl2 was done intraperitoneally once weekly for twenty-eight (28) days while that of EREUC was done using orogastric tube once daily for twenty-eight (28) days. Following animal sacrifice, the prostate glands were collected for antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, histological and immunohistochemical assessments while blood sample was obtained from the inferior vena cava for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and hormonal assays. Findings from this study revealed that CdCl2-treated rats demonstrated increase in the serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, PSA as well as dysregulated antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) and increased lipid peroxidation. Presence of small and crowded glands, undulating acini with contours, nuclear atypia, nuclear hyperchromasia, infiltration of inflammatory cells and up-regulated expression of p53 and increased expression of Ki-67 biomarkers were observed in CdCl2-induced rats. However, posttreatment with EREUC mitigated against the following; antioxidant enzymes dysregulation, elevated hormonal profile, elevated PSA level and elevated lipid peroxidation. U. chamae post-treatment ameliorated the premalignant features of the prostate and down-regulated p53 and Ki67 expressions highlighting the anti-cancer property of U. chamae root. These findings suggest that U. chamae root possesses antioxidant and anti-cancer effects against CdCl2- induced carcinogenic potentials in the prostate through hormonal normalisation and antioxidant mechanisms. The study therefore provides empirical evidence to support the capacity of U. chamae as a promising anti-cancer agent.
