Investigating the Binding-Targets of the Aqueous Root Extract of Croton Membranaceous in Hyperplastic Prostate Tissue.

Abstract

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that affects aging men with accompanying lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction. Several drugs, both allopathic and phytotherapeutic, have been developed to manage BPH. Croton membranacous is a popular Ghanaian plant that has been used to manage BPH and its associated symptoms. Several studies have indicated that the aqueous root extract of Croton membranaceous (CMARE) shrinks prostate in men with BPH. However, the mechanism of action of CMARE is not known. Research has proven that CMARE does not act using any of the mechanisms of action of the allopathic counterparts and this places a limitation on its recognition and patronage. This research will therefore exploit the next most probable mechanism of action of CMARE. General aim: The study was aimed at investigating whether the aqueous root extract of Croton membranaceous shrinks hyperplastic prostate tissue by binding to androgen and/or estrogen receptors on the prostate tissue. Methodology: Twenty five (25) adult male Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats weighing between 200 g and 250 g were acclimatised to laboratory conditions and randomly grouped into five (5) groups of five (5). With exception of the control group, BPH was induced in all rats. Each of the castrated rats was administered 5mg/kg testosterone propionate seven (7) days after castration for 28 consecutive days to induce BPH. After successful induction of BPH, one group served as pathological model group whilst the other three served as drug treated groups. The first two drug treated groups received 30mg/kgb.wt. [low dose (LD)] and 300mg/kgb.wt. [high dose (HD)] respectively Croton membranaceus aqueous root extract (CMARE) per os by oral gavage for 28days. The last group served as a positive control group and received 0.5 mg/kgb.wt. finasteride per os for 28 days. Their prostate tissues were harvested, fixed with formalin and processed into slides. After antigen retrieval, the tissues were incubated with specific monoclonal antibodies raised against androgen and estrogen receptors. Slides of the tissues were observed under the fluorescence and light microscopes and results reported based on the intensity of fluorescence or colour development using a grading system of 1 to 4. Data obtained was analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis H Test using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24. The hypothesis was tested at a significance level of 0.05. Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups with respect to estrogen receptor beta immunostaining (p= 0.015). A significant difference was also observed between the control and the CMARE treated groups (i.e. low and high dose groups) regarding androgen receptors immunostaining (p=0.023 in either case). For estrogen beta staining, a significant difference (p=0.015) was observed between staining intensities of the control group and the CMARE treated groups. Comparing the low dose CMARE group to the high dose CMARE group, there was no significant difference between mean staining intensities in all three immunoassays (p=1.000).

Description

MSc.

Keywords

Binding-Targets, Aqueous Root Extract, Croton Membranaceous, Hyperplastic Prostate Tissue.

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