title: The combination of Serenoa repens, selenium and lycopene is more effective than serenoa repens alone to prevent hormone dependent prostatic growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serenoa repens is frequently combined with other natural compounds, such as the carotenoid lycopene and the essential trace element Se, to increase its therapeutic activity in benign prostatic hyperplasia. We noted that the lycopene-Se-Serenoa repens combination has greater, enhanced anti-inflammatory activity, which might be of particular interest for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment. Testosterone administration in rats is a suitable tool for investigating hormone dependent benign prostatic hyperplasia. We performed a comparison experiment between Serenoa repens and the lycopene-Se-Serenoa repens combination on prostate growth induced in rats by testosterone administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were treated daily with testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg subcutaneously) or its vehicle for 14 days. Testosterone administered animals were randomized to receive vehicle, Serenoa repens (25 mg/kg subcutaneously) or the combination of lycopene (3 mg/kg subcutaneously), Se (3 mg/kg subcutaneously) and Serenoa repens for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed and the prostate was removed for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lycopene-Se-Serenoa repens was more effective than Serenoa repens alone for decreasing prostate weight and hyperplasia, augmenting pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-9, and blunting anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA. Lycopene-Se-Serenoa repens also markedly decreased epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that the lycopene-Se-Serenoa repens combination is superior to Serenoa repens alone for decreasing hormone dependent prostatic growth.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irrera
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Favilla
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgia
authors.forename: Letteria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minutoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D028024:Serenoa; D043343:Testosterone Propionate / Q000494:pharmacology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D002338:Carotenoids; D053453:Caspase 9; D012643:Selenium; D000077276:Lycopene; D043343:Testosterone Propionate