Pumpkin-Seed Ethanolic Extract Has Protective and Therapeutic effect On Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prophylactic and curative effects of pumpkin seed ethanolic extract (PSEE) in adult male rats with testosterone-induced BPH. Two study group were designed for this study; the first study examined the protective effect of (PSEE) against testosterone-induced BPH in five rats divided into three equal groups (control negative group (C1) received only drinking water; protective group (P) received testosterone enanthate concurrently with regular oral administration of (PSEE) for 30 days, and control positive group (CP) received only testosterone enanthate; although the second study examined the extract's therapeutic effect on testosterone-induced BPH, it used two equal groups (control negative group (C2) (injected testosterone enanthate only for 30 days) and therapeutic group (T) (injected testosterone enanthate for 30 days, then the injection stopped, and the rats received 100mg of pumpkin seed ethanolic extract orally for 27 days). Serum dihydrotestosterone(DHT) levels, 5α-reductase, and PSA were estimated, and prostates were histologically studied. Results showed a significant reduction in all examined parameters and histopathological improvement in protective and therapeutic groups compared to control groups. In conclusion, the pumpkin seed ethanolic extract has curative and protective activity on testosterone-induced BPH in rats, with a potential protective effect compared to curative activity.