Phytosterol Pygeum africanum regulates prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo.
BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer is an important public health problem. It is an excellent candidate disease for chemoprevention because prostate cancer is typically slow growing and is usually diagnosed in elderly males. Pygeum africanum (Prunus africana or Rosaceae) is an African prune (plum) tree found in tropical Africa. An extract from the bark of Pygeum africanum has been used in Europe as a prevention and treatment of prostate disorders including benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). More recently in the USA, the phytotherapeutic preparations of Pygeum africanum and Saw palmetto have been marketed for prostate health including prostate cancer prevention and treatment.


METHODS
The anti-cancer potential of Pygeum africanum has been tested both in vitro (PC-3 and LNCaP cells) and in vivo (TRAMP mouse model).


RESULTS
In tissue culture, ethanolic extracts (30%) of Pygeum africanum inhibited the growth of PC-3 and LNCaP cells; induced apoptosis and altered cell kinetics; down regulated ERalpha and PKC-alpha protein, and demonstrated good binding ability to both mouse uterine estrogen receptors and LNCaP human androgen receptors. TRAMP mice fed Pygeum africanum showed a significant reduction (P = 0.034) in prostate cancer incidence (35%) compared to casein fed mice (62.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pygeum africanum, which is widely used in Europe and USA for treatment of BPH, has a significant role in regulation of prostate cancer both in vitro and in vivo and therefore may be a useful supplement for people at high risk for developing prostate cancer.
Shenouda
Nader S
NS
Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri-Columbia, 920 East Campus Drive, 110A ASRC, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Sakla
Mary S
MS
Newton
Leslie G
LG
Besch-Williford
Cynthia
C
Greenberg
Norman M
NM
MacDonald
Ruth S
RS
Lubahn
Dennis B
DB
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068218:Prunus africana
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010840:Phytosterols; D010936:Plant Extracts
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