Extracts of bark from the traditional Chinese herb Phellodendron amurense inhibit contractility of the isolated rat prostate gland.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese herb Phellodendron amurense in treating urological disorders.


METHODS
Prostate smooth muscle relaxant activity of an extract from the bark of Phellodendron amurense was tested on contractions of isolated rat prostate gland induced by electrical nerve stimulation and direct muscle stimulation.


RESULTS
Electrical field stimulation (0.5 ms, 60V, 1-20 Hz) induced nerve mediated contractions of isolated rat prostate were inhibited by Phellodendron amurense extract dissolved in either dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), acetic acid or water (P<or=0.022, n=6 for each) but not boiling water (P=0.619, n=6). Phellodendron amurense extract also inhibited contractions of isolated rat prostates elicited by exogenous administration of noradrenaline (10nM to 100 microM), acetylcholine (10nM to 100 microM) or adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP, 100 nM to 100 microM) (P<or=0.004, n=6-8 for each).


CONCLUSIONS
Phellodendron amurense is able to inhibit prostatic contractility suggesting that it may be useful in the treatment of urological disorders caused by prostatic urethral obstruction such as in the case of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Prostate Research Co-operative, Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Action, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Yuanhao
Y
Xu
Sabatino
S
Ventura
D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D032102:Phellodendron; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024301:Plant Bark; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy; D058913:Purinergic Agonists; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D058913:Purinergic Agonists