Curcuma longa AND Moringa oleifera ARE SYNERGISTICALLY ANTIPROLIFERATIVE BY DOWNREGULATING p63 GENE IN TESTOSTERONE-INDUCED BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA IN RATS

Abstract

Background: Although many drugs exist for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) today, it remains the most common prostatic disease affecting older men. Herbal medicine has become more common as an affordable alternative therapy for curing and preventing tissue-related pathologies in hopes of overcoming the side effects of existing synthetic pharmaceutical products and surgical procedures.

Aim: This study evaluated the effects of single and combined ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa and Moringa oleifera on testosterone-induced BPH, urothelial, and testicular toxicity in albino rats.

Method: In this experimental study BHP was induced in albino rats and treated with C. longa, M. oleifera, C. longa/M. oleifera, and Tamsulosin hydrochloride. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and tissue p63 expression were estimated by the ELISA and Avidin-Biotin Complex (immunohistochemistry) methods. Differences in PSA levels among the Groups were assessed using ANOVA and significance set at p< 0.05.

Result: Biochemical findings showed significantly increased serum PSA levels in BPH induced group (0.59 ± 0.07 nmol/L) without treatment compared with BPH-induced group treated with a single extract of C. longa, M. oleifera, combined extracts of C. longa and M. oleifera and standard drug (0.12 ± 0.06 nmol/L, 0.16 ± 0.04 nmol/L, 0.11 ± 0.02 nmol/L, and 0.20 ± 0.04 nmol/L, respectively) at p< 0.05. Histology revealed giant cell formation in the BPH-induced group without treatment. Combined administration of a mixture of C. longa and M. oleifera showed an observable reduction of the p63 protein expression in urothelial cells when compared with the single use of either of the plants.

Conclusion: This study revealed that combining both C. longa root and M. oleifera seed extracts has curative potential on experimentally induced BPH. It suggests that standardized herbal medicine could be used as an alternative to orthodox medicine, especially in low-resource settings.