The Potential Protective Effect for Some Nutritional Sources of Lycopene on Prostatic Hypertrophy in Rats

Abstract

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is hyperplasia of the stromal and epithelial layers of the prostate. The prostate has an important role in the success of fertilization in most mammalian species.

Objective: This studyaimed at evaluating the protective effect of lycopene, red pepper, and papaya extracts on prostatic hypertrophy in  rats.

Materials and methods: Forty-two mature male albino rats were divided into 7 groups, each group had six rats. Group 1, control  rats received only corn oil. In Group 2 (BPH), rats were given intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 5 mg/kg for 14 days of testosterone  propionate (TP), dissolved in corn oil. Group 3 (BPH) rats were given 4 mg/kg/day of lycopene. Group 4 and 5 (BPH) rats were given 250  and 500 mg/kg/day of sweet red pepper fruit extract dissolved in distilled water. Group 6 and 7 (BPH) rats were given 250 and 500 mg/ kg/day of papaya fruit extract dissolved in distilled water. The doses were given via gastric tube daily for 28 consecutive days. At the end  of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed, and the weights of rats, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, and prostate weights were  recorded. Liver enzymes and sperm characteristics count were determined.

Results: Oral administration of lycopene, ethanolic extract of  red pepper, and papaya fruits improved feed intake (FI), body weight gain % (BWG%), feed efficiency ratio (FER), prostate weight, liver  enzymes, sperm count, and sperm motility.

Conclusion: Papaya fruits are a powerful remedy to normalize testosterone-induced BPH in  rats