Abstract
BackgroundQian-Yu decoction (QYD) is a traditional Chinese medicinal recipe composed of Radix astragali (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K. Hsiao, Fabaceae), Herba epimedii (Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., Berberidaceae), Herba leonuri (Leonurus japonicus Houtt., Lamiaceae), Cortex phellodendri (Phellodendron chinense Schneid., Rutaceae) and Radix achyranthis bidentatae (Achyranthes bidentata Bl., Amaranthaceae). This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic activity of QYD against carrageenan-induced chronic prostatic/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in rats and further elucidate its effective components.MethodsThree types of components, total polysaccharides, total flavonoids and total saponins were separately extracted from QYD. Carrageenan-induced CP/CPPS rats were intragastrically administered with lyophilized product of QYD, individual extracts and all the combined forms of extracts for three weeks. Prostatic index (PI) was determined and histopathological analysis was performed. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PEG2) in rat prostate tissues were measured using ELISA. The production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was evaluated by an enzymatic activity assay, and the release of nitric oxide (NO) was determined by a nitrate/nitrite assay.ResultsTreatment with QYD significantly ameliorated the histological changes of CP/CPPS rats and reduced the PI by 44.3%, with a marked downregulation of TNF-α (42.8% reduction), IL-1β (45.3%), COX-2 (36.6%), PGE2 (44.2%), iNOS (54.1%) and NO (46.0%). Each of three extracts attenuated the symptom of CP/CPPS, but much more weakly than QYD. The combined administration of three extracts showed efficacy comparable to that of QYD while better than that of any combination of two extracts. A principal component analysis of the six inflammatory mediators as variables indicated that the effects of TS on CP/CPPS were rather different from those of TF and TP, which were similar.ConclusionsQYD can be beneficial in prevention and treatment of CP/CPPS. Polysaccharides, flavonoids and saponins, as the major effective components of QYD, exert a cooperative effect on CP/CPPS.
Highlights
Qian-Yu decoction (QYD) is a traditional Chinese medicinal recipe composed of Radix astragali (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K
As category III prostatitis classified by the National Institute of Health, chronic prostatic/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) has been subdivided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms, depending on whether white blood cells can be found in semen, postprostatic massage urine and expressed prostatic secretion of patients [2]
After total polysaccharides (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and total saponins (TS) were separately extracted from QYD, their contents in the extracts reached up to 69.0%, 63.4% and 53.6%, respectively
Summary
Qian-Yu decoction (QYD) is a traditional Chinese medicinal recipe composed of Radix astragali (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic activity of QYD against carrageenan-induced chronic prostatic/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in rats and further elucidate its effective components. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), characterized by long-term pelvic or perineal pain without evidence of urinary tract infection, accounts for 90-95% of prostatitis cases [1]. The conventional treatments for CP/CPPS are antibiotics, alpha blockers, anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants, often combined with psychological and physical therapies [9]. They focus on relieving symptoms rather than curing the condition, and are often found to provide little or only temporary symptom relief. Quercetin (a natural flavonoid) and cernilton (pollen extracts), have been valued as effective treatments on the basis of clinical evidences [10,11,12]
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