ABSTRACT

This study is aimed to determine the effect of methanol conn extract of Colocasia esculenta on scrum electrolyte balance in Dihydrotestosterone-estradiol Valerate induced BPH in male albino rats,the result of phytochemical composition of Colocasia esculenta corm showed high level of Oxalate of 28.12 (mg/lOOg) followed by reducing sugar (3.61 mg/lOOg) and Phytate (3.41 mg/lOOg) while phenols, flavonoids, and Tannins arc in moderate amount. Results of the acute toxicity test of the methanol extract of Colocasia esculenta corm showed that no death was recorded in the mice up to the dose 5000mg/Kg body weight of the extract, thus proving Colocasia esculenta to be generally safe for consumption. Result ofrelative organ weight showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in relative heart and kidney weight. The relative liver weight of disease control decrease (p<0.005) significantly when compared with other treatment groups and normal control group. The relative prostate weight of the disease control increased (p><0.05) significantly when compare with other experimental groups while relative testis weight decreased significantly (p><0.05) in disease control when compared with the normal control. The level of Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in disease control significantly (p><0.05) decrease when compared with other treatment group, however administration of cocoyam methanol extract al 200 and 400mg/K.g elicited a dose-dependent reduction in PSA noticeably less than finasteride a standard BPH management drug, Result of sodium ion concentration showed a significant (p><0.05) decrease in all the experiment groups when compared with the disease control. The result showed a significant (p>0.05) increase in the level of bicarbonate in finasteride and methanol extract treated group when compared with disease and normal contro. Result of potassium showed that there is significant (p<0.05) reduction in potassium level of disease control and 200mg/kg group compared with other treatment group. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the level of chloride ion when treated in all experimental groups. Thus the methanol extract of cocoyam had a beneficial effect on the serum electrolyte status in dihydrotestosterone-estradiol valerate-induced BPH possibly due to its phytochemical constituents present in it indicated that Colocasia esculenta effectively inhibits the development of BPH induced by dihydrotestosterone-estradiol valerate in a rat model. Further study will be needed to identify the compound responsible for inducing protective effect against BPH and determine its mechanism of action.