Abstract
BackgroundBongardia chrysogonum is widely used in Turkey for treating urinary tract infections and prostate hypertrophy, and it also has potent hypoglycemic effects and aids glucose homeostasis. Because of the inflammatory conditions in diabetes mellitus (DM), the prostate tissue of men with diabetes is particularly susceptible to developing hypoplasia, and DM produces characteristic pathological changes in prostate tissue. Here, we examined the effects of B. chrysogonum on the prostate tissue of rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.ResultsThe glucose levels were statistically significantly higher in the diabetic rats than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Further, they were significantly lower in the healthy and diabetic rats administered B. chrysogonum than in the untreated diabetic rats (P < 0.001 and 0.05, respectively). The total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the healthy rats administered B. chrysogonum than the healthy controls (P < 0.05) and diabetic rats (P < 0.01). They were also significantly lower in the diabetic rats administered B. chrysogonum than those that were left untreated (P < 0.05). The testosterone levels were significantly lower in the untreated diabetic rats than in the controls (untreated ones and those administered B. chrysogonum) and diabetic rats administered the herb (P < 0.001, 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). The oxidative stress index was significantly higher in the untreated diabetic rats than the healthy controls (P < 0.05). It was also significantly lower in the healthy and diabetic groups treated with B. chrysogonum than the untreated diabetic rats (P < 0.05). Histological examination showed no changes in the prostate tissue of the non-diabetic rats. In the diabetic group, the glandular lumens were filled with cellular debris and leucocytic infiltrate, and the glandular epithelium was degenerated and thickened. In the diabetic group treated with B. chrysogonum, the epithelium was better preserved and less debris was seen in the glandular lumen.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study to histologically prove the effects of B. chrysogonum on prostate tissue in diabetes. Our findings may be useful in developing B. chrysogonum into a therapeutic agent against diabetes and benign prostate hyperplasia.
Highlights
Bongardia chrysogonum is widely used in Turkey for treating urinary tract infections and prostate hypertrophy, and it has potent hypoglycemic effects and aids glucose homeostasis
We examined the effects of B. chrysogonum on prostate tissue in a rat model with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in terms of the histological and biochemical aspects
total cholesterol (TC), TG, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and testosterone levels The glucose levels were significantly higher in group D than in group C (P < 0.001)
Summary
Bongardia chrysogonum is widely used in Turkey for treating urinary tract infections and prostate hypertrophy, and it has potent hypoglycemic effects and aids glucose homeostasis. Its use in the treatment of urinary tract infections, prostate hypertrophy, hypercholesterolemia, epilepsy, and cancer has increased its national demand, and it is marketed throughout Turkey (Arslan et al 2005). Saponins are fat- and watersoluble glycosides that combine with glycan or aglycan components of B. chrysogonum They inhibit the emulsification of fat molecules and bile acids via reducing their surface tension and detergent effects in the gastrointestinal tract. Another well-defined anti-hypercholesterolemic mechanism of saponins is the ability to change the quantity and dimension of cholesterol micelles, which reduces their absorption by intestinal mucosa cells (Rahman et al 2000; Rao and Kendall 1986; Sidhu and Oakenfull 1986; Whitehead et al 1981), with consequent effects on metabolism
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