BPH

The prostate gland is a major source of serious health problems for men. It is susceptible to the most common chronic inflammatory condition, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer is the most common malignancy. Age is a key risk factor for both BPH and prostate cancer, but diet, physical activity, and exposure to toxins also contribute to risk. BPH is specifically associated with hormonal changes that occur as men age. Family history is a predictor of prostate cancer.

Chronic inflammation is itself a risk factor for cancer and there is evidence that BPH is a forerunner of prostate cancer. At the molecular level, alterations in DNA structure characteristic of all cancers, are detected in the DNA from BPH tissues independently of the more extensive damage seen in the DNA from prostate tumors [1]. At the level of therapy, two plant extracts (Pao pereira and Rauwolfia vomitoria) that react with this damaged DNA and induce apoptosis in cancer cells have demonstrated effectiveness against prostate cancer and advanced prostate cancer [2-5]. Recent research from Dr. Jun Yan’s laboratory at Nanjing University, sponsored by the Beljanski Foundation, shows that both extracts are also remarkably effective for BPH in an animal model: the androgen imbalance seen in older men is corrected, the prostate is reduced to normal size and the inflammatory condition is directly suppressed [6-9]. The effects of the extracts demonstrate that BPH is reversible.

In Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, a chronic inflammation that causes prostate enlargement, Rauwolfia vomitoria extract triggers persistent autophagy that leads to death of BPH cells by apoptosis. The result is that BPH cells are removed from the body. Normally, cells maintain homeostasis by recycling their proteins and organelles using a process called autophagy—literally “self-digestion”. Autophagy promotes the survival of cells that contain defective proteins or structures: the recovered components can be reused to make healthy proteins and structures. In BPH, Rauwolfia extract induces an extension of the self-digestion process called autophagic apoptosis, which ends in BPH cell death. For the serious inflammation in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, induction of autophagic apoptosis is just what the doctor ordered and Rauwolfia extract does it! Rauwolfia extract is likely to trigger this mechanism in precancerous inflammations in other hormonally regulated tissues such as breast.

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.

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.

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.