Noa M, Arruzazabala M L, Carbajal D, Más R, Molina V
Center of Natural Products from the National Center for Scientific Research, Havana City, Cuba.
Int J Tissue React. 2005;27(4):203-11.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the nonmalignant, uncontrolled growth of prostate gland cells and stroma leading to difficulty in urinating. Lipid extracts from Saw palmetto (Arecaceae) fruits are used to treat BPH. The Cuban royal palm (Roystonea regia) is a member of this family and D-004, a lipid extract from its fruits, prevents prostate hyperplasia (PH) induced with testosterone, as opposed to dihydrotestosterone, in rodents. This study investigated whether D-004 could prevent the histological features of testosterone-induced PH in rats. Rats were distributed into six groups (10 rats per group): A negative control group receiving subcutaneous injections of soy oil and treated with vehicle, and five groups injected subcutaneously with testosterone and treated with the vehicle (positive control), D-004 (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) or Saw palmetto (400 mg/kg). Treatments were given orally for 14 days. At sacrifice, prostates were removed and processed for light microscopy. The histopathological findings of PH were assessed according to a score-chart protocol. D-004 200 and 400 mg/kg, but not 100 mg/kg, significantly and moderately in a dose-dependent manner prevented prostate enlargement and the testosterone-induced histological changes. Compared with positive controls, D-004 200 and 400 mg/kg inhibited prostate size increases and the histological score up to 56.1% and 60.7%, respectively, while Saw palmetto 400 mg/kg reduced such variables by 45.8% and 49.0%, respectively. The effects of D-004 400 mg/kg on the histological changes, not on prostate size, were greater (p < 0.05) than those of Saw palmetto. D-004 and Saw palmetto did not affect body weight values. In conclusion, D-004 200 and 400 mg/kg administered orally for 14 days prevented the increase of prostate size and the testosterone-induced histological changes in rats, its effects being comparable or mildly better than those of Saw palmetto. These results extend previous data showing preventive effects of D-004 on testosterone-induced prostate enlargement with in rodents, and further studies are required to explore the mechanisms underlying such effects.
良性前列腺增生（BPH）是前列腺腺细胞和基质的非恶性、不受控制的生长，导致排尿困难。锯叶棕（棕榈科）果实的脂质提取物用于治疗BPH。古巴王棕（大王椰子）是该科的一员，其果实的脂质提取物D-004可预防啮齿动物中由睾酮而非二氢睾酮诱导的前列腺增生（PH）。本研究调查了D-004是否能预防大鼠中睾酮诱导的PH的组织学特征。将大鼠分为六组（每组10只）：一个阴性对照组，皮下注射大豆油并用赋形剂处理；五个组皮下注射睾酮并用赋形剂（阳性对照）、D-004（100、200和400mg/kg）或锯叶棕（400mg/kg）处理。口服给药14天。处死时，取出前列腺并进行光学显微镜检查。根据评分图表方案评估PH的组织病理学结果。200和400mg/kg的D-004（而非100mg/kg）以剂量依赖的方式显著且适度地预防了前列腺肿大和睾酮诱导的组织学变化。与阳性对照组相比，200和400mg/kg的D-004分别抑制前列腺大小增加和组织学评分达56.1%和60.7%，而400mg/kg的锯叶棕分别使这些变量降低45.8%和49.0%。400mg/kg的D-004对组织学变化（而非前列腺大小）的影响比锯叶棕更大（p<0.05）。D-004和锯叶棕不影响体重值。总之，口服14天200和400mg/kg的D-004可预防大鼠前列腺大小增加和睾酮诱导的组织学变化，其效果与锯叶棕相当或略好。这些结果扩展了先前的数据，表明D-004对啮齿动物中睾酮诱导的前列腺肿大具有预防作用，需要进一步研究以探索这种作用的潜在机制。
