title: Influence of Panax ginseng on Alpha-Adrenergic Receptor of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate problem in older men. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) on a rat model of testosterone-induced BPH.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into 3 groups (each group, n=10): control, testosterone-induced BPH (20 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection), and P. ginseng (200 mg/kg, orally) groups. After 4 weeks, all animals were sacrificed to examine the blood biochemical profiles, prostate volume, weight, histopathological changes, alpha-1D adrenergic receptor (Adra1d) mRNA expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group treated with P. ginseng showed significantly lesser prostate size and weight than the testosterone-induced BPH group. In addition, P. ginseng decreased the mRNA expression of Adra1d as well as the expression of EGFR and BCL2 in prostate tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that P. ginseng may inhibit the alpha-1-adrenergic receptor to suppress the development of BPH.
authors.affiliation: Kohwang Medical Research Institute, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Kang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Kohwang Medical Research Institute, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Herbal Crop Utilization Research Team, Department of Medicinal Crop Research Institute, Eumseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Mushroom Research Division, National Institute of Horticulture & Herbal Science, Rural Administration, Eumseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Hyo
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Herbal Crop Utilization Research Team, Department of Medicinal Crop Research Institute, Eumseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ock
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6661-5153
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Panax; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; Testosterone