ABSTRACT

 This study is aimed to determine the effect of methanol corm extract of Colocasia esculenta on scrum electrolyte ha lance in Dihydrotestosterone-estradiol Valerate induced BPI I in male albino rats,the result of phytochemical composition of Colocasiaesculenta corm showed high level of Oxalate of 28.12 (mg/l00g) followed by reducing sugar (3.61 mg/l00g) and Phytate (3.41 mg/ 100g) while phenols, flavonoids, and Tannins are in modcratc amount. Results of thc acute toxicity test of the methanol extract of Colocasiaesculenta corm showed that no death was recorded in till: mice up lo the dose 5000mg/Kg body weight of the extract, thus proving Colocasiaesculenta to be generally safe for consumption. Result of relative 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 at 200 and 400mg/Kg elicited a dose-dependent reduction in PSA noticeably less than finasteride a standard 81'I I management drug, Result of sodium ion concentration showed a significant (p<0.05) dccrcasc 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 a! disease control and 200mg/kg group compared with other treatment group. There was no s•~nificant (p>0.05) tliffcnmcc 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 dihydrotestosteronc-estradiol valerate-induced BPI I 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.