Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland, common in older males, that causes urinary and quality of life problems. In a previous study we found that the Pao pereira extract can attenuate BPH development in a rat model by reducing expression of androgen receptor and 5α-reductase. In this study we looked further into the molecular mechanism of Pao pereira’s anti-inflammatory effect in BPH. We found the Pao extract suppressed the growth of two BPH cell lines: BPH-1 and WPMY-1 by inducing apoptosis via inhibition of the NFκB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that Pao Pereira extract may be a very promising therapeutic for BPH.

Pancreatic cancers are enriched with cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which are resistant to chemotherapies, and responsible for tumor metastasis and recurrence. We investigated the extract of a medicinal plant Pao pereira for its activity against pancreatic CSCs. Pao inhibited overall proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell lines and had limited cytotoxicity to normal epithelial cells. In several assays pancreatic CSC population was significantly reduced. In vivo, the Pao extract significantly reduced tumorigenicity of PANC-1 cells. Further investigation is warranted in using Pao as a novel treatment targeting pancreatic CSCs.

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Cancer stem cells are a type of stem cell specific to cancer, that is able to reproduce through self-renewal and regeneration into new tumor cells. Cancer stem cells are thought to survive chemotherapy treatments and provide the basis for tumor regrowth. It is critical to find treatments for cancer stem cells to prevent this disease from resurfacing in a person again and again. Research conducted at Kansas University Medical Center concluded that both the Pao pereira (Pau pereira) and Rauwolfia vomitoria extracts inhibited the proliferation of multiple human ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro.

Research conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center on the effect of the plant extracts on ovarian cancer concludes that “In vivo, Pao pereira (Pau pereira) alone suppressed tumor growth by 79% and decreased volume of ascites by 55%. When Pao pereira (Pau pereira) was combined with carboplatin, tumor inhibition reached 97% and ascites was completely eradicated.” Pao pereira (Pau pereira) possesses potent antitumor activity and works in synergy with chemotherapy.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common forms of chronic inflammation in the urinary system of older men. We investigated the therapeutic potential of Pao Pereira extract against BPH development in a testosterone-induced BPH rat model. The administration of testosterone induced the prostate enlargement and either Pao extract or finasteride was evaluated for potential to resolve the BPH condition. Results showed that prostate weights were dramatically reduced in both the Pao and finasteride groups. Notably, Pao treatment did not significantly reduce sperm numbers which is a well-known side effect of finasteride. Pao extract was found to suppress testosterone-induced BPH development by inhibiting androgen receptor expression and activity and by reducing expression of 5α-reductase and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Pao Pereira extract may be a promising and relatively safe agent for BPH.