The 5¦Á-reductase Target Nutmeg Improve The Role Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

In the previous study, we found an ehanol extrats from Chinese herb Rou Dou Kou (Myristica fragrans Houtt) could significantly inhibit activity of 5alpha-reductase in the CHO cells expressing the 5alpha-reductase II gene and block the conversion of testosterone(T) into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) catalyzed by the reductase. In order to confirm the screening result and further evaluate the action of Rou Dou Kou, we did following research: (1) we extracted 5alpha-reductase from prostate tissue of male rats, and estabelished a measuring method for 5alpha-reductase activity. (2) we investigated inhibitive function to the reductase of several extracts of Rou Dou Kou (from ehanol extrator of Rou Dou Kou via systematic solvent-extraction process)based on the method. (3) Model Rats were achieved by injecting propionate testosterone. The efficacy of Rou Dou Kou for treating testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia rats was evaluated by measuring the DHT levels in serum and prostate tissue, and combined with prostate wet weight and prostate index. The results showed: (I)A stable method for measuring the activity of 5alpha-reductase from prostate tissue of male rats was build up through optimization of all the reactive conditions. Rou Dou Kou ehanol extrat could significantly inhibit 5alpha-reductase activity and hold up the conversion of testosterone into DHT in vitro, thereby confirming the previous screening result in CHO cells andsuggesting Rou Dou Kou may be a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor. (II) Different solvent extracts also obviously inhibited 5alpha-reductase activity, especially ether extract. It will facilitate further separation and research for the effective part or active ingredient of Rou Dou Kou. (HI) Propionate testosterone increased DHT in prostate tissue of castrated male rats, while ethanol extract of Rou Dou Kou apparently decreased prostate DHT to normal level caused by propionate testosterone when used in 720mg/kg. Lower dosage ethanol extracts of Rou Dou Kou in 240mg/kg also cut down prostate DHT raise caused by propionate testosterone and made it close to normal level. Additionally ethanol extract of Rou Dou Kou (720mg/kg) clearly declined prostate wet weight and volume of castrated male rats, and so did 240mg/kg to prostate index. Experiment in vivo not only proved the screening result in vitro, but also revealed the mechanism of Rou Dou Kou to relieve BPH. These results suggested that Rou Dou Kou could be used as a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor to treat BPH and provide new thinking and method for Chinese herbs to treat BPH, mirrored by 5alpha-reductase as a target to research action of Rou Dou Kou in vitro and in vivo.