Ethnopharmacological relevance

Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae, S. hexaphylla) is traditionally used as a folk remedy for alleviating fever and for its anti– inflammatory and analgesic properties. In Korea and China, S. hexaphylla has been used as a traditional medicine that acts as diuretic and analgesic. S. hexaphylla has also been reported to inhibit osteoporosis and aldose reductase activity.

Aim of the study

The study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of an extract of S. hexaphylla on testosterone induced benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) models and to observe its mechanism of action.

Materials and methods

To induce a BPH model in vitro and in vivo, a testosterone-treated LNCaP cell line and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used, respectively. Androgen receptors (ARs) and prostate-specific antigens (PSA), which are typical BPH-related proteins, were evaluated using western blotting. Prostate weights and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were measured in vivo, and histopathology of the prostate examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and 5α-reductase type 2 were also evaluated via immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) staining and LC3 staining of IHC were performed to evaluate apoptosis and autophagy.

Results

S. hexaphylla reduced prostates weights and the thickness of prostate epithelial cells. In vivo and in vitro, PSA and ARs were downregulated following S. hexaphylla treatment. The S. hexaphylla extracts also reduced DHT and 5α-reductase type 2 expression. In addition, the expression of PCNA was reduced, and in the TUNEL staining and IHC of LC3, the number of positive cells was increased in the groups treated with S. hexaphylla.

Conclusions

It was observed that extracts of S. hexaphylla inhibited both 5α -reductase type 2 and ARs. The results indicate that the use of S. hexaphylla extract in BPH is probably beneficial through 5α-reductase inhibition and α-adrenergic receptor blockade. In addition, apoptosis and autophagy were induced, and PCNA was downregulated after S. hexaphylla treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that S. hexaphylla has a therapeutic effect on BPH.