Variations in metabolites content and bioactivity to regulate biomarkers of benign prostatic hyperplasia according to the growth stages of Sida rhombifolia

It has been reported that the secondary metabolites produced by plants are influenced by genetic diversity and growth conditions, resulting in significant variations in chemical content even within the same species. In the previous study searching for bioactive materials from plants to improve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it was found that the methanolic extract of Sida rhombifolia in the family of Malvaceae exhibited the excellent inhibition on the expressions of 5-alpha reductase type 2 (5αR2) and androgen receptor (AR) in human prostate cells. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the change in the contents of major components of S. rhombifolia and the activity of improving BPH according to the growth stages of S. rhombifolia. Plant growth characteristics including plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, and number of leaves were examined at intervals of approximately 15 days for 51 days. The contents of 20-Hydroxyecdysone and α-Ecdysone, the main constituents contained in S. rhombifolia on each day after transplantation (DAT) were analyzed using LC-ESI-MS/MS. The inhibitory activities of S. rhombifolia stems or leaves at each DAT on the expressions of AR, 5αR2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), were evaluated in human originated prostate cells, RWPE-1 and LNCaP cells activated by Testosterone propionate (TP). Considering the yield of the raw materials, the contents of metabolites, and the bioactivities, it was suggested that the appropriate collection period for S. rhombifolia as a bioactive material to improve BPH might be after 90 DAT.