Changes in Prostate Specific Antigen and Acid Phosphatase of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced Male Albino Rats Fed with Cooked Phaseolus Vulgaris (Black Bean) Juice

Abstract : Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland in ageing males and is associated with hormonal imbalances, inflammation and biochemical alterations. It could be detected biochemically through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) assay. Plant-based interventions have gained increasing attention due to their affordability, safety, and rich phytochemical composition. Phaseolus vulgaris (black bean) is a legume containing phenolics, flavonoids, and bioactive peptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effect on prostate biomarkers has not been clearly established. This study investigated the effect of cooked black bean juice on PSA and PAP levels in testosterone-propionate induced BPH male albino rats. Twenty-four adult rats (150–280 g) were divided into four groups after induction of BPH by subcutaneous testosterone propionate. Animals were treated with graded doses of cooked P. vulgaris juice (low, medium, and high), while the control group received no extract. Serum PSA (ng/mL) and PAP (IU/L) were analyzed before and after treatment. Results showed that induction of BPH significantly elevated PSA and PAP. Administration of cooked black bean juice produced significant reductions (p < 0.05) in both biomarkers across all treated groups. PAP decreased from 11.55 ± 0.76 to 7.62 ± 0.93 in the high-dose group, 11.42 ± 0.98 to 7.32 ± 0.66 in the medium-dose group, and 10.73 ± 1.49 to 7.15 ± 0.68 in the low-dose group. PSA declined correspondingly from 3.12 ± 0.46 to 1.79 ± 0.58, 3.04 ± 0.54 to 1.77 ± 0.69, and 2.94 ± 0.40 to 1.22 ± 0.48 respectively. A strong positive correlation existed between PSA and PAP (r = 0.97, p = 0.000), indicating that reductions in these markers were closely related. The study concludes that cooked P. vulgaris juice exerts beneficial effects on prostate biochemical indices in BPH and may serve as a natural therapeutic adjunct in prostate health management