ABSTRACT

In this study, kolaviron (Ky) (a biflavonoid complex) was extracted from Garcinia kola with methanol. Thereafter, the effects of Ky, Fractions of KV and Finasteride (a standard drug) administration on experimentally-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), were investigated in male wistar rats. BPH was induced by subcutaneous injection of 9mg/kg and 0.9mg/kg body weight dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate (ESV) both dissolved in olive oil, every other day for 28 days Biochemical indices of BPH were determined using standard methods. The study was done in two phases: phase one was done using different doses of KV and phase two was done using fractions of Ky. Phase one was preceded by a pilot study with 10 male wistar rats to ascertain that BPH could be successfully induced with DHT and ESV. Each of KY and its fractions had a lethal dose (LD50) greater than 1000mg/kg body weight. Phase one was conducted with 35 male wistar rats (go-i lOg) which were randomly placed in seven groups of 5 rats each. Groups I (Positive control), 2 (Finasteride control)and 3(KV control) were given subcutaneous injection of body weight equivalent of hormone dose vehicle (olive oil) in place of hormone every other day and oral administration of body weight equivalent of extract dose vehicle (olive oil), 5mg/7Okg Finasteride and KV(loomg/kg) respectively everyday for 28 days. Groups 4(Disease control), 5, 6 and 7 received BPH induction and concomitant oral administration of body weight equivalent of placebo/vehicle, Finasteride (5mg/70kg), KY (100mg/kg) and KV (200mg/kg) respectively every day for 28 days. Mean body weights decreased significantly (pO.05) in the relative heart, liver and kidney weights and, the alanine amino trañsferase and aspartate amino transferase activites. KY at 200mg/kg had the greatest reduction in prostate weight and this was confirmed by histological findings. The effect of all the test extracts compared well with that of Finasteride used as positive control drug. Phase two experimental studies investigated the effects of fractions (Fl, F2 and F3) of KY in experimentally-induced BPH. Thirty-five animals were randomly placed into seven different groups of five rats each. Group I (Positive control) was given subcutaneous injections of body weight equivalent of hormone dose vehicle (olive oil) in place of hormone every other day and oral administration of body weight equivalent of extract dose vehicle (olive oil) everyday for 28 days. Group 2 (Disease control), 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 received BPH induction and concomitant oral administration of body weight equivalent of extract vehicle, Finasteride (5mg/70kg), KV (200mg/kg), Fl (acetone fraction) at (100mg/kg), F2 (methanol fraction) at (100mg/kg) and F3 (ethylacetate fraction) at (100mg/kg) respectively every day for 28 days.