Title
N-Butanol and Aqueous Fractions of Red Maca Methanolic Extract Exerts Opposite Effects on Androgen and Oestrogens Receptors (Alpha and Beta) in Rats with Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Date Issued
2017
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Vasquez-Velasquez, C
Gonzales-Castaneda, C
Guajardo-Correa, E
Orihuela, PA
Gonzales, GF
Publisher(s)
Hindawi Limited
Abstract
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) affects, worldwide, 50% of 60-year-old men. The Peruvian plant red maca (Lepidium meyenii) inhibits BPH in rodents. This study aimed to determine the effects of methanolic red maca extract and its n-butanol and aqueous fractions on expression of androgen and oestrogen receptors in rats with testosterone enanthate-induced BPH. Thirty-six rats in six groups were studied. Control group received 2 mL of vehicle orally and 0.1 mL of propylene glycol intramuscularly. The second group received vehicle orally and testosterone enanthate (TE) (25 mg/0.1 mL) intramuscularly in days 1 and 7. The other four groups were BPH-induced with TE and received, during 21 days, 3.78 mg/mL of finasteride, 18.3 mg/mL methanol extract of red maca, 2 mg/mL of n-butanol fraction, or 16.3 mg/mL of aqueous fraction from red maca. Treatments with red maca extract and its n-butanol but not aqueous fraction reduced prostate weight similar to finasteride. All maca treated groups restored the expression of ERβ, but only the aqueous fraction increased androgen receptors and ERα. In conclusion, butanol fraction of red maca reduced prostate size in BPH by restoring expression of ERβ without affecting androgen receptors and ERα. This effect was not observed with aqueous fraction of methanolic extract of red maca. © 2017 Diego Fano et al.
Volume
2017
Number
7
Language
English
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85042255529
Source
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
ISSN of the container
1741-427X
Sponsor(s)
The authors thank Dr. Manuel Gasco for his technical help in animal experimentation, Proyecto Basal FB0807, and Proyecto DICYT Regular 021543OD and DICYT Aso-ciativo 021743OD DAS. This study was supported by a Grant from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación/Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CON-CYTEC/FONDECYT), Peru, named “Research Circles” (Grant no. 010-2014-FONDECYT). The sponsor has not participated in the study design, collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, not in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the article for publication.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica