Nanjing University

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.