ABSTRACT

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease occurring frequently among elderly males, is a slow progressive enlargement of the fibro muscular and epithelial structures of the prostate gland. The current study was undertaken to investigate the effect of methanol extract of colocasiaesciilenta on the hematological parameters, relative organs weights, in dihydrotestosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in male wistar rats. Phytochemical analysis was conducted on the corms of C. escuienta using standard methods. Twenty male wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each: Group 1 -normal control; Group 2-disease control (BPH); Group 3-standard drug (Finasteride) in olive oil; Group 4- 200mg/kg of methanol extract of C. esculenta; and Group 5- 400mg/kg of methanol extract of C. esculenta. The normal control was not induced with BPH but was given olive oil administered orally (everyday) and subcutaneous injection of olive oil (every other day) for 28 days. The disease control group was induced with BPH by hormones on alternative days for 28 days and oral administration of olive oil for 28 days. The standard control group (induced BPH) was given finasteride 5mg/70kg administered orally every day. The 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of methanol extract of C. esculenta corms was given to BPH induced rats orally every day respectively. Treatment with DHT significantly increased the prostate gland. Results of the phytochemical studies showed high levels of oxalate (28.16 ±0.21mg/bOg), followed by reducing sugar (3.61±0.01mg/bOg) and phytate (3.42+0.21mg/i oog). Steroid (0.04±0.01mg/i oog) has the lowest concentration. Body weight, Hb, PCV,MCH and WBC significantly increased (P< 0.05) in treated BPH rats compared to non -treated diseased group. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed for RBC,MCHC and MCH of all the experimental groups when compared with the control. The WBC has a significant increase when treated with 400mg/kg Colocasia esculenta corm compared with normal control rats. Co-administration of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of C. esculenta and finasteride significantly reduced PSA level (P<0.05). Results indicate that C. esculenta may have beneficial effect in the useful treatment and management of BPH and also in preventing or suppressing the development of BPH.