Inhibitory effect of curcumin on testosterone induced benign prostatic hyperplasia rat model.
BACKGROUND
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the common male diseases, which is provoked by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and androgen signals. Several studies showed that curcumin has various effects of prevention and treatment to diseases. We investigated whether curcumin may repress the development of BPH in male Wistar rats.


METHODS
Seven weeks male Wistar rats were and divided into 4 groups (normal group, BPH group, finasteride group, curcumin group; n = 8 for each group). In order to induce BPH in rats, rats were castrated and testosterone was injected subcutaneously everyday (s.c., 20 mg/kg). Rats in the curcumin group were treated 50 mg/kg, administered orally for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, all rats were sacrificed and their prostate and serum were analyzed.


RESULTS
Compared to the finasteride group as positive group, the curcumin group showed similarly protective effect on BPH in histopathologic morphology, prostate volume. Results of immunohistochemistry and western-blot showed decreased expressions of VEGF, TGF-ß1, and IGF1 were also decreased in the curcumin group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that curcumin inhibited the development of BPH and might a useful herbal treatment or functional food for BPH.
Kohwang Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Su Kang
SK
Kim
Kohwang Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Hosik
H
Seok
Kohwang Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Hae Jeong
HJ
Park
Kohwang Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Hye Sook
HS
Jeon
Kohwang Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Sang Wook
SW
Kang
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-702, Republic of Korea.
Byung-Cheol
BC
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-702, Republic of Korea.
Jooil
J
Yi
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-702, Republic of Korea.
Sang Yeol
SY
Song
Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-702, Republic of Korea.
Sang Hyub
SH
Lee
Development of Ginseng and Medical Plants Research Institute, Rural Administration, Eumseong, 369-873, Republic of Korea.
Young Ock
YO
Kim
Kohwang Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. jhchung@khu.ac.kr.
Joo-Ho
JH
Chung
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D003474:Curcumin