Ficus glumosa delile leaf extract attenuates some biochemical markers in testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in wistar rats.

Ficus glumosa is used extensively in traditional medicine to manage and remedy some health conditions. This study evaluated the impact of F. glumosa leaf extract on selected biochemical indices of testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in male Wistar rats.  Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6). Rats in the Normal Control (NC) received feed without any special treatment, rats in the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Control (BPHC) group were administered 50 mg/Kg body weight testosterone, rats in the Standard Control (STDC) group received 50 mg/Kg body weight testosterone + 5 mg/Kg body weight finasteride, rats in the low dose (LD) group received 50 mg/Kg body weight testosterone + 100 mg/Kg body weight of F. glumosa extract, rats in the medium dose  group received 50 mg/Kg body weight testosterone + 200 mg/Kg body weight of F. glumosa extract, rats in the high dose group received 50 mg/Kg body weight testosterone + 400 mg/Kg body weight of F. glumosa extract. The animals received water and feed ad libitum for 28 days. They were anaesthetized (after treatment period) using ketamine hypochlorite. Blood samples were collected, centrifuged and serum harvested for analyses using standard methods and one way ANOVA followed by least square difference (LSD) post-hoc comparison test. Results indicated a significant decrease at p< 0.05 in serum electrolytes (Na and Cl) in the groups treated with F. glumosa extract when compared to the control groups. The serum urea, uric acid and creatinine levels of the groups treated with 200 mg/kg b.w and 400 mg/kg bw of F. glumosa leaf extract decreased significantly when compared to the BPHC standard and normal control groups. Also the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase indicated similar trend. We therefore conclude that F. glumosa leaf extract may attenuate some biochemical indices especially serum electrolytes (Na and Cl), aspartate aminotransferase as well as HDL-c level in testosterone – induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats.