Protective Effects of Achyranthes bidentata Root Extract Against Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced by Testosterone Propionate in Rats

Background/Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prevalent among older men and is often accompanied by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including storage and voiding symptoms. Achyranthis Radix, the root of Achyranthes bidentata, is commonly used as a functional food in Asia and has been documented in traditional medicine for conditions associated with LUTS. However, its effects on BPH have not been experimentally investigated. Therefore, this study evaluated an ethanolic extract of Achyranthis Radix (ARE) in a rat model of testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups: sham, control, finasteride (1 mg/kg), and ARE (30, 100, or 300 mg/kg). BPH was induced in all groups except the sham group by castration followed by subcutaneous administration of TP (3 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. ARE and finasteride were orally administered once daily concurrently with TP treatment. Prostate weight, prostate index, histological changes, serum androgen levels, androgen receptor (AR) expression, and apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated. Results: ARE significantly reduced prostate weight and prostate index and attenuated BPH-associated histological changes compared with the control group. ARE also significantly decreased serum dihydrotestosterone levels and reduced prostatic AR expression. In addition, ARE modulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the prostate. Conclusions: ARE attenuated the development of prostate enlargement in rats when administered concurrently with TP. The accompanying changes in serum androgen levels and prostatic androgen-related and apoptosis-related protein expression provide a basis for further mechanistic investigation. These findings support further evaluation of ARE for BPH management.