title: Shrinkage of Prostate and Improved Quality of Life: Management of BPH Patients with Croton membranaceus Ethanolic Root Extract.
abstract: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate. The study aimed at validating the use of freeze-dried Croton membranaceus ethanolic root extract for BPH management. Thirty-three patients were observed before and after 3-month administration of 20 mg t.i.d orally. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires were used. Total/free PSA (tPSA, fPSA), renal, liver function, lipid tests, and ultrasonographic imaging were performed. Thirty (30) patients (66 ± 11 years) completed the study. IPSS results showed 37% had severe, 40% moderate, and 23% mild symptoms before; 57% and 43% had moderate and mild symptoms, respectively, after treatment. IIED of patients' results showed 30% with severe, 40% moderate, 24% mild-moderate, 3% mild, and 3% no erectile dysfunction before treatment and 20% severe, 43% moderate, and 37% mild-moderate dysfunction, after treatment. Quality of life (QoL) improved (P = 0.001). Significant but non-pathological increases in total and indirect bilirubin as well as apolipoprotein A occurred. Mean tPSA reduced from 27.9 ± 19.0 to 16.2 ± 11.8 ng/mL (P = 0.002); fPSA from 6.1 ± 4.8 to 3.9 ± 2.9 ng/mL (P = 0.045); and prostate volume from 101.8 ± 41.3 to 54.5 ± 24.8 cm(3)  (P = 0.023). C. membranaceus shrinks the prostate and improves QoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Ghana School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: George Awuku
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.affiliation: Ghana Police Hospital, Cantonment, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Afriyie
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ngala
authors.affiliation: Center for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong, Akuapem, Ghana.
authors.forename: Alfred A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Appiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Ghana School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana ; Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Anang
authors.affiliation: Ghana Police Hospital, Cantonment, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Iddi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Musah
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiography, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kwabena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bamfo-Quaicoe
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiography, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Derick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sule
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ben A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gyan
authors.affiliation: Traditional and Alternative Medicine Council, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arhin
authors.affiliation: Center for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong, Akuapem, Ghana.
authors.forename: Dominic A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Edoh