ABSTRACT
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland that arises due to the loss of homeostasis between cellular proliferation and cell death, resulting in an imbalance favoring cellular proliferation. This study evaluated the anti-BPH effect of Cassia alata ethanol leaf extract. The dried leaf of Cassia alata were powdered using attrition mill and was extracted with absolute ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was concentrated over a water bath at 40 °c and preserved in a glass jar at 4 ⁰C. Acute toxicity of the plant extract was evaluated, and results showed that oral dose of the extract up to 5000mg/kg was safe in rats. The phytochemical screening of the plant also showed the presence of secondary metabolites; alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, cyanogenetic glycoside, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins. Thirty six albino rats were used in this study and divided into six (6) groups of normal, negative, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg dose of the extract, and finasteride respectively. All groups except the normal were treated with a 5 mg/kg dose of testosterone. Finasteride group was treated with 4 mg/kg finasteride in addition to testosterone. The three extract treatment groups received a concurrent treatment of the extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses respectively. After 28 days of the administration, the animals were sacrificed and samples of the blood and the prostate tissue were collected for further analysis. The blood samples were centrifuged to obtain the serum and were analyzed for Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) antioxidant activities; Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; and for Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Estradiol, and Prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The prostate indices and histopathological profile of the harvested prostate glands were also obtained, and the phytochemicals present in ethanolic leaf extract of C. alata were evaluated. The extract caused decrease in serum testosterone, DHT, E2, prostate weight and prostate volume, and total protein concentrations P<0-05 but caused an increased in PSA level and level of oxidative parameters p<0-05 measured in the study. The antiBPH effect of the extract was established.
