Effects of D-004, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances on testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia in rats

Abstract

Ambar O. Yera, Yohani P. Guerra, Sonia J. Despaigne, Rosa M. Ferreiro, Vivian M. Cuevas

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of D-004, the lipid extract of the royal palm (Roystonea regia) fruits, on testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia (PH) in rats. Rats were randomized into seven groups: a negative control and six groups were injected subcutaneously with testosterone; one of the testosterone-injected groups served as positive control and five were treated with D-004 (400 mg/kg), grape seed extract (GSE) (250 mg/kg), vitamin E (VE) (250 mg/kg), ibuprofen (200 mg/kg) or celecoxib (50 mg/kg) for 14 days. Effects on prostate weight (PW), on rat prostate malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were assessed. The injection of testosterone increased significantly the PW, PW/bodyweight (BW) ratio, MDA concentration and MPO activity in the positive controls as compared to the negative controls. Oral administration of D-004, not of any other treatment, significantly reduced PW and PW/BW ratio as compared to the positive control. D-004, GSE and VE, not ibuprofen or celecoxib, lowered significantly MDA values (82.9, 86 and 98.8%, respectively). In contrast, significant inhibitions of MPO activity were achieved with D-004 (58.5%), GSE (56.1%), ibuprofen (73.8%) and celecoxib (61.5%), not with VE. In conclusion, oral treatment with D-004 (400 mg/kg), but not with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances tested, prevented testosterone-induced PH in rats, so that the preventive effect of D-004 on this model does not seem to be associated to its antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects