title: Prostate-specific targeting of the aqueous root extract of Croton membranaceus in experimental animals.
abstract: Croton membranaceus Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is used for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) treatment. The study aimed at investigating organs that the aqueous root extracts of C. membranaceus (CMARE) target, which is absent in literature. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-140 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1, the control group received distilled water. Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 30, 150 and 300 mg kg(-1) b.wt CMARE respectively (oral gavage). Rats fed 90 days the standard chow diet ad libitum. Upon sacrifice, major organs were histologically examined and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) biochemically determined. Only the prostate was abnormal. Histologically, H&E staining revealed thickness and infoldings of the epithelial cells shrinking with increasing dose. The 30 mg kg(-1) group showed low columnar or flattened epithelium cells, whereas the columnar epithelium infoldings of the 150 mg kg(-1) b.wt and 300 mg kg(-1) b.wt groups were virtually nonexistent. The acini of the control, 30 mg kg(-1) b.wt group and the 150 mg kg(-1) b.wt groups showed clear pinkish secretion. However, secretion of the high-dose group appeared light pink in colour and the stroma cells appeared much darker than all the treated and control group. C. membranaceus targets the prostate with significant PSA reduction (P < 0.01).
authors: Department of Pharmacology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
authors: D K
authors: DK
authors: Afriyie
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Asare
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Bugyei
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Asiedu-Gyekye
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Tackie
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Adjei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Croton membranaceus; epithelium; prostate; rats; stroma cells