Ethanol Root Extract of <i>Uvaria chamae</i> Down-Regulates Ki-67 in Cadmium Chloride-Induced Prostate Pre-malignancy in Wistar Rats

Prostate malignancy is one of the most diagnosed malignancies in men worldwide and a major health problem to men in both developed and developing world. Currently, several medicinal plants have been reported to possess anti-malignant property, hence we decided to investigate this property in Uvaria chamae (UC) on Ki-67 which is a prognostic factor in prostate malignancy. Emphasis was also placed on oxidative stress markers. A total of sixty (60) Wistar rats were used for this investigation and were randomly divided into ten (10) groups of six (6) animals each. Group 1 served as control and received distilled water alone, group 2-6 were induced with pre-malignancy using 3mg/kg of cadmium chloride (Cdcl2) for twenty-eight (28) days. Group 3-6 were subsequently treated with 150mg/kg of casodex, 2500mg/kg, 1500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of UC root extract respectively, after the initial induction of pre-malignancy. Group 7-10 received 150mg/kg of casodex, 2500mg/kg, 1500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg Uvaria chamae root extract alone, respectively. After sacrifice, prostate tissues were removed for immunohistochemical assay of Ki-67 and oxidative stress studies. Results obtained from this study showed ki-67 up-regulation in prostate tissues induced with pre-malignancy, similarly a significant down-regulation of Ki-67 marker was observed in prostate tissues of Uvaria chamae treated groups after pre-malignancy. Ki-67 marker remained low in Uvaria chamae alone treated group. Furthermore, ethanol root extract of U. chamae down-regulated tissue level of MDA but up-regulated tissue levels of SOD, CAT and GPx in Cdcl2-induced prostate premalignancy. The results established that, U. chamae root exhibit strong anti-cancer property in prostate premalignancy.