Protective effect of the hydroethanolic extract of camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum) on benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone in rats.

Background: One of the Iranian medicinal plants is Alhagi maurorum, which belongs to the Fabaceae family. The plant is used to treat different conditions, such as aphthous ulcers, cardiac pains, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, dysuria, etc. Given that A. maurorum is characterized by its richness in flavonoids and phenolic compounds, and it is used to treat urinary tract disorders, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects of its hydroethanolic extract in a rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: After preparing the hydroethanolic extract, phytochemical analysis, including GC-MS, was conducted. Adult male Wistar rats (n:35) were randomly divided into five groups (n:7): A sham surgery was conducted on the first group, while the other four groups underwent castration through the scrotal route. Seven days after the surgery, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was induced in all groups except the first one, using a subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day. The treatment duration lasted 28 days, during which the animals received oral treatments as follows: 1. Sham control: normal saline, 2. Positive control (BPH group): normal saline, 3. Comparative control: finasteride at 5 mg/kg/day, 4. T1 group: A. maurorum extract at 200 mg/kg/day, and 5. T2 group: A. maurorum extract at 400 mg/kg/day. At the end of the experiment, following an overnight fast and after administering anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine, blood was collected through cardiac puncture, and sera were harvested for hormone assay. Finally after euthanizing the rats, the ventral prostatic lobes were dissected for biochemical, histopathological, and gene expression analyses.

Results: GC-MS analysis showed the presence of nine components. A. maurorum extract and/or Finasteride led to a significant reduction of the prostate weight and prostatic index, serum, and prostatic levels of testosterone. These compounds led to the downregulation of 5-α reductase and androgen receptor genes expression, boosted total antioxidant capacity, and declined prostatic malondialdehyde levels. Intervention using the extract, comparable to Finasteride, led to BPH-induced histopathological enhancements in the prostate.

Conclusion: Treatment using A. maurorum extract resulted in significant protection of the prostate against BPH, which is attributable to its antioxidant and androgen-modulating characteristics.