Potential Efficacy of Some African Plants in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Traditional medicine is very popular in Africa and it is considered as an alternative form of health care. Plants and vegetables used in folk and traditional medicine have gained wide acceptance as one of the main sources of prophylactic and chemopreventive drug discovery and this is due to the evidence of particular biological and biochemical characteristics of each plants extracts. The role of these compounds in urological field may be explained by the antiinflammatory effect through interference with prostaglandin metabolism, alteration of lipid peroxidation, direct inhibition of prostate growth and moreover through an antiandrogenic or antiestrogenic effect and a decrease of the availability of sex hormone-binding globulin. Since Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer are two of the most diffuse diseases of aging male and considering that standard medical therapy is accompanied with different side effects, the emerging use of African plants may be justified. This review takes a look at some African plants extracts properties and their relative urological application. Different biomolecular mechanisms of action are promising, suggesting a real application in reducing prostate cells proliferation.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins in experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia: effects of serenoa repens, selenium and lycopene

“…The burden of BPH on healthcare systems and to society is already high and it is expected to increase in line with the greater life expectancy [4,5]. BPH results from smooth muscle and epithelial proliferation primarily within the prostatic transition zone that can produce LUTS [6-9]. As a consequence, targeting apoptosis may represent a rational therapeutic strategy in the treatment of BPH.…”

The effect of pomegranate fruit extract on testosterone‐induced BPH in rats

“…Prostate tissue is normally protected from oxidative damage by free radical scavengers and enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase . BPH also involves increased growth of both smooth muscle and epithelial cells mainly in the transition zone of the prostate . Interestingly, Di Silverio et al showed that COX‐II inhibition in human prostatic tissue can produce a significant increase in apoptosis in prostatic tissue.…”

Qualitative Analysis of Cruciferous Vegetable Extracts Useful for Estrogen Metabolism for Diindolylmethane (Dim)

“…Herbal medicine which is also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to the use of plant parts or mixtures of plants extract(s) for medicinal purposes (Russo et al, 2013). Examples of such products includes the leaves and roots of Annona senegalensis, stem of Cissus populnea, the seeds of Garcinia kola, the whole plant of Momordica charantia, the leaves and roots of both Newbouldea laevis and Rauwolfia vomitoria (Russo et al, 2013).…”