Effect of Paecilomyces tenuipes Extract on Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Sprague–Dawley Rats

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the major public health concerns, which has a high prevalence rate and causes significant decline in men’s quality of life. BPH is highly related to sexual hormone metabolism and aging. In particular, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), to which testosterone is modified by 5α-reductase (5AR), has a significant effect on BPH development. DHT binds to an androgen receptor (AR) and steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1); then, it induces the proliferation of a prostate cell and expression of prostate specific antigen (PSA). Paecilomyces tenuipes (P. tenuipes) is a mushroom that has been popularized by the artificial cultivation of fruiting bodies based on silkworms by researchers from the Republic of Korea. In a previous study, we identified the effect of PE on PSA mRNA expression in LNCaP cells. This suggests that PE may have an inhibitory effect on androgen signaling. Therefore, we confirmed the expression of androgen signaling-related factors, such as AR, SRC-1, and PSA in LNCaP. Furthermore, we confirmed the androgen signaling inhibitory effect of PE using the testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH rat model. A BPH rat model was established with a four-week treatment of daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate (TP, 3 mg/kg) dissolved in corn oil after castration. The rats in the treatment group were orally gavaged P. tenuipes extract (PE), finasteride (Fi), or saw palmetto extract (Saw) with TP injection. DHT induced an increase in the expression levels of AR, SRC-1, and PSA proteins in LNCaP cells. On the contrary, the PE treatment reduced the expression levels. In vivo, the BPH group showed an increase in prostate size compared with the control group. The PE gavaged group showed a decrease in prostate size compared with the BPH group. In addition, the protein expressions of AR, 5AR2, and PSA were significantly lower in the PE gavaged group than BPH group in prostate tissue. These results suggest the beneficial effects of PE on BPH via the modulation of AR signaling pathway.

Therapeutic effects of β‐caryophyllene on proliferative disorders and inflammation of the gerbil prostate

“…Thus, from the histological analysis of the ventral prostate, it is possible to infer that the dose of testosterone used was sufficient to induce all the BPH typic alterations. This statement can be corroborated by the increase in serum levels of this androgen in the groups that received supplementation 9,11,14,67 …”

“…This statement can be corroborated by the increase in serum levels of this androgen in the groups that received supplementation. 9,11,14,67 The increased incidence of PHH3 positive cells in the epithelium of the T group shows the presence of proliferating cells, as seen in BPH. This marker is specific and consistent for determining proliferation and has been widely applied in studies related to neoplasms, 68 such as prostate cancer.…”

“…5 The experimental models are important in the study of this disorder that can be induced by androgen analogs. [7][8][9][10][11] Androgens are essential steroid hormones for prostate development and homeostasis. [12][13][14] These hormones are already established as risk factors for the pathogenesis of BPH and are associated with elevated inflammatory cell levels.…”

“…The inflammatory environment and uncontrolled cell proliferation leads to tumorigenesis 5 . The experimental models are important in the study of this disorder that can be induced by androgen analogs 7–11 …”

Effect of Cassia fistula Hydroalcoholic Extract on Testosterone Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Rats

“…The observed effects on prostatic hyperplasia may be due to the presence of secondary metabolites present in the extract. Some plant extracts like the hydroalcoholic extract of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum have been found to possess large amounts of physiologically active secondary metabolites including β-glucan, terpenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols such as apigenin and epigallocatechin-3gallate which inhibit the activity of 5-AR (Choi et al, 2019).…”