*Rauwolfia Vomitoria Extract Suppresses Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

We investigated Rauwolfia vomitoria extract as a therapeutic option for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a common disease in older men with serious impact on quality of life. The oral administration of the Rauwolfia extract significantly reduced prostate weight in animals with BPH, which is shown by the decreased thickness of the prostate epithelial layer. Similar effects were observed in the BPH animals treated with finasteride. The Rauwolfia extract significantly reduced the level of androgen receptor and 5 alpha reductase as well as testosterone-induced proliferation markers — Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cyclin D1. As evidence of its lack of side effects, Rauwolfia did not reduce sperm counts whereas Finasteride did.