Effects of an Oil-Free Hydroethanolic Pumpkin Seed Extract on Symptom Frequency and Severity in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Pilot Study in Humans

Abstract

Majority of men are affected by symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from a certain age. Botanical extracts are frequently used in the early management of the symptoms. In a single-arm, mono-center pilot study, the effects of a proprietary oil-free hydroethanolic pumpkin seed extract on the symptoms of BPH were investigated. A total of 60 men (62.3 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 60.3–64.3 years]) with a total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 14.8 (95% CI: 13.5–16.1) participated between January 2017 and October 2017 in the study by ingesting the oil-free hydroethanolic pumpkin seed extract once daily before going to bed during 3 months. Change in IPSS within treatment period was assessed. Frequency of nocturia was recorded by bladder diary, and postvoid residual urine volume was determined through ultrasound. Between baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation, a significant symptom reduction of an average 30.1% (95% CI: 23.1–37.1) was seen for the total IPSS. Symptom alleviation had a high impact on quality of life ( P < .0001) and was significant after 8 and 12 weeks of intervention ( P < .001). Nocturia significantly decreased over time ( P < .0001), as confirmed by IPSS questionnaire and bladder diary. Postvoid residual urine volume was significantly reduced at the end of intervention (baseline: 83.67 mL [95% CI: 58.02–109.3]; after 12 weeks: 63.11 mL [95% CI: 45.37–80.85]; P = .0394). These results indicate that the oil-free hydroethanolic pumpkin seed extract seems to be a very well tolerable, appropriate plant extract to support health benefits in a collective suffering from BPH related symptoms without the need of medical treatment.

RETRACTED: Attenuation of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Optimized Tadalafil Loaded Pumpkin Seed Oil-Based Self Nanoemulsion: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

“…The improvement in the C max and AUC after loading TDL into the optimized PSO SNEDDS formula when compared with raw TDL indicated that TDL-PSO SNEDDS showed enhanced concentrations of TDL in prostatic tissues. In addition, the reported anti-BPH activities of PSO cannot be excluded [21,23]. Thus, the observed decrease in the prostate weight and index than those in the oral TDL treated group could be attributed to both enhanced TDL distribution to prostatic tissues and additive and/or synergistic effects of the SNEDDS component formula PSO.…”

“…However, the findings did not clearly indicate any mechanisms involving sex steroid receptors. The growth of both hyperplastic and cancerous cells is prevented by hydroalcoholic pumpkin seed extract, although the impact on hyperplastic cells is more pronounced [23]. This is a statistically significant finding, as it indicates a compound with greater efficacy against hyperplastic cells, including cancer cells and other rapidly growing cells that are present in hyperplastic tissue and only slightly impact non-hyperplastic cells [24].…”

“…Pumpkins tend to be mainly eaten, but other members of the Cucurbitaceae family are also utilized in various nations, such as in China, North India, Mexico, and the Caribbean. However, in North America and Europe, the use of nutraceuticals, especially pumpkin seeds, as therapy for the prostate and bladder is gaining interest [22][23][24]. Nutraceuticals tend to be marketed as a range of dietary supplements for this reason.…”

Efficacy and Side Effects of Drugs Commonly Used for the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

“…Analysis showed that this treatment led to an average reduction of 30.1% (95% CI: 23.1-37.1) for total IPSS. There was also an obvious reduction in PVR (baseline: 83.67 mL [95% CI: 58.02-109.3]; after 12 weeks: 63.11 mL [95% CI: 45.37-80.85]), and a significant reduction in the frequency of nocturia (Leibbrand et al, 2019). Although the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of plant extracts on BPH patients have yet to be elucidated, several studies suggest that plant extracts may exert pharmacological action through anti-androgenic, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-edema activities (Buck, 2004;Gandaglia et al, 2017;Paterniti et al, 2018).However, the mechanisms underlying these effects may involve the action of multiple active ingredients present in the plant extract.…”

Postoperative antibiotic therapy patterns in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) patients

“…Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlarged prostate disease benign or a condition when the cells are present the prostate gland has an increased proliferation rate (Montorsi & Mercadante, 2013). BPH is characterized by changes in stromal cells and a persistent epithelium proliferation around the urethra, causing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) (Leibbrand et al, 2019). Generally, a man who experiences LUTS begins to appear when a person has passed 50 years old (Montorsi & Mercadante, 2013).…”