Protective effect of Curcubita pepo seed extract against some prostatic and biochemical markers of Testosterone propionate-Induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in male albino rats

Aim: This research was designed to determine the protective effect of Curcubita pepo seed-extract (CPSE) on some prostatic and biochemical markers of testosterone propionate-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in male albino rats. Methods: Standard methods were used to determine the chemical constituents of Curcubita pepo seed-extract. After one week of adaptation, a total of 60 male albino rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups (A-F) of ten rats per group. Group A received only the vehicle, olive oil and served as normal control. Testosterone propionate (TP), at 14 mgKg-1 body weight was administered intraperitoneally daily to groups B to F for 4 weeks to induce BPH. While group C was administered 10 mgKg-1 of finasteride (F) through oral intubation, groups D, E, and F were orally administered extract of CPSE at the doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/Kg body weight daily for four weeks. The albino rats were euthanized and sacrificed, while the tissues were harvested for analysis. Results: Testosterone propionate-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in our albino rats (group B) discloses a significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of PSA, ACP, MDA, dihydrotestosterone, estrogen and androgen with a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the activities of CAT, SOD and levels of GSH compared to the Group A that received only the vehicle, olive oil. However, treatments with both standard drug (finasteride) and CPSE at the stipulated doses reversed the trends of these markers to a level comparable to the normal control. The GC-MS analysis results of Cucurbita pepo seed revealed the existence of fifteen compounds. Docking results showed that 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid and 2-Hydroxycyclopentadecanone exhibited good binding affinities against PSA similar to the standard drug (-5.4, and -7.8, compared to -7.9), and ACP, -5.5, and -7.0 compared to the standard drug, -8.2. These findings indicate that CPSE could be effective in the management of BPH and its associated disorders.