Citrullus lanatus Rind and Juice Extracts as Probable Therapeutics in the Prevention and Management of Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) afflicts about 90% of men in the 9th decade of life. Its management could pose socio-economic challenges. Citrullus lanatus is widely cultivated and known to have antioxidant properties that could impact positively on the management of BPH.

Aim: The ameliorative effect of the rind and juice of Citrullus lanatus in induced BPH in Wistar rats was investigated.

Methodology: Forty adult male Wistar rats in eight equal groups were used for the experiment. The normal control group was NC while the BPH induced but untreated group was CI. The aqueous rind concomitant (ARC) and ethanolic rind concomitant (ERC) groups had administration of the respective extract of the rind simultaneously with the induction of BPH. The aqueous rind post-induction (ARP), ethanolic rind post-induction (ERP) and juice post- induction (JP) groups had respective extract after induction of BPH. The last group was juice concomitant (JC). Upon conclusion of the study, the animals were ethically sacrificed; the prostate glands harvested for measurement, histological analysis and oxidative stress evaluation {superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), gluthatione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA)}.

Results: The CI group had significantly higher mean prostate weight than groups NC, ARP and ERP (P< 0.05). The respective activities of SOD, CAT and GPx in ARC, ERC, JC, ARP, ERP and JP were significantly (P< 0.05) higher than in CI. The MDA concentrations were significantly (P< 0.05) lower in ARC, ERP and JP than CI.

Histology of the JC prostate gland showed non-hyperplasia.

Conclusion: The study showed that the rind and juice of Citrullus lanatus reduced the enlarged prostate gland, ameliorated the associated oxidative stress and restored the altered picture of the prostate in induced BPH. Thus Citrullus lanatus may be of medicinal relevance in the prevention and management of BPH.