Hypolipidemic and Antioxidants Properties of Methanol Leaf Extract of Laportea aestuans on Androgen-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease characterized by enlargement of the prostate gland and its associated complications.

Objectives: Phytochemicals responsible for hypolipidemic and antioxidants effects of leaf extract of Laportea aestuans in androgen-induced BPH Wistar rats were evaluated.

Methods: Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of 6 rats each. BPH was induced by subcutaneous injection of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol-valerate (10:1) daily for 28 days. The diseased control and drug control groups were given subcutaneous olive oil and oral finasteride (5 mg/kg.bw) respectively after induction of BPH. Rats in the test groups were given 50 and 100 mg/kg.bw of the extract orally for 28 days respectively, following disease induction. The lethal dose LD₅₀ and antioxidants activity of plant extracts, lipid profile and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level of the rats were assayed using standard biochemical tests.

Results: Secondary metabolites detected were alkaloids (20.11±0.07 mg/kg), tannins (1.32±0.21), and saponins (11.41±0.14). PSA level was significantly decreased (P<0.05) when compared with the diseased control. The lipid profile assay revealed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in Triacylglycerol (62%), Cholesterol (27%) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (19%) but high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration increased by 41%. The extracts also improved SOD (26%), catalase (38%) and reduced glutathione (36%) levels but reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level by 28%.

Conclusion: These findings therefore provide a scientific evidence for the traditional use of L. aestuans in the management of complications associated with BPH which could be a function of the various phytochemicals detected in the plant