Protective Effect of Jatropha tanjorensis Leaves Ethanol Extract on Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Albino Rats

This study examined the protective effect of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves ethanol extract (JTLEE) on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in albino rats. Twenty-five (25) male rats were employed for the study. Five (5) groups of five (5) rats each were created from the animals. Group 1 was neither induced nor treated (normal control), Group 2 was induced but not treated (untreated control), Group 3 was induced and treated with 1 mg/kg b.w. of finasteride (standard control). Groups 4 and 5 were induced and treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of JTLEE (low and high dose), respectively. The BPH model was developed in the rats (groups 2 to 5) by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg body weight (b.w)) for 21 days. The JTLEE-treated groups showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the weight of the prostate, bladder, and prostate index compared to the untreated control. The PSA level in the extract-treated groups (4.33 ± 0.24) showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease compared to the untreated control (6.75 ± 0.32). Additionally, a dose-dependent significant (p < 0.05) reduction in testosterone concentrations of JTLEE-treated rats was observed. There was a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of HDL levels of rats treated with varying doses of the JTLEE (3.93 ± 0.16) compared to the untreated group (2.07 ± 0.23). Considering the above results, it could be concluded that JTLEE possesses an anti-BPH effect as observed in the reduction of prostate tissues and significant changes in other prostate indices.