title: Extracts of various species of Epilobium inhibit proliferation of human prostate cells.
abstract: This study examined whether various species of Epilobium, a phytotherapeutic agent used in folk medicine as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, may have an antiproliferative effect in PZ-HPV-7 human prostatic epithelial cells in-vitro. The MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) test, [methyl-(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and flow cytometry analysis were used to evaluate cell proliferation. Ethanolic extracts of E. spicatum, E. rosmarinifolium and E. tetragonum inhibited DNA synthesis in PZ-HPV-7 cells. While at high concentrations all extracts were cytotoxic, DNA synthesis was also decreased at levels that caused no or little cytotoxicity. Treatment of cells with Epilobium extracts did not result in a formation of DNA fragments (evaluated by the TUNEL assay) or chromatin condensation (assessed by Hoechst staining). Flow cytometry analysis indicated that Epilobium extracts inhibit the progression of the cell cycle from the G(0)/G(1) phase. These results suggest that extracts of Epilobium inhibit proliferation of human PZ-HPV-7 cells in-vitro by affecting progression of the cell cycle. This study provides some initial biological plausibility for the use of Epilobium extracts in benign prostatic hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University of Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. annabella.vitalone@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Annabella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitalone
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guizzetti
authors.forename: Lucio G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tita
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D031666:Epilobium; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts