Antiproliferative Potentials of Zingiber officinale in Testosterone Induced Prostate Hyperplastic Albino Wister Rats

Aims: The present study evaluated the anti-proliferative potential of Zingiber officinale - Zo (Ginger) rhizome and Dutasteride (Avodart) singly and in combination on testosterone propionate (TP) induced benign prostatic hyperplastic (BPH) male albino wistar rats.

Study Design: This study is an interventional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Port Harcourt, between April and September, 2019.

Methodology: A total of 70 adult male albino wistar rats that weighed between 170-200 g were used for this study. They were fed with commercial rat diet and clean drinking water. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ginger rhizome were prepared using the maceration method. BPH was induced in rats after they were subjected to bilateral orchiectomy by daily injections of TP (4 mg/kg b.wt.sc.). Rats were treated with 500 or 1500 mg/kg b.wt. of aqueous or ethanoI extracts of Zo rhizome, dutasteride or in combination. Administration of extracts was done by gavage. Plasma prostate specific antigen (PSA) was analysed using sandwich ELISA Kits by Shanghai Korain Biotech Co., Ltd, China, prostatic weight (PW) was determined using a weighing balance while rat prostatic volume (PV) was calculated from measured prostatic length, breath and height. Prostatic indices (PI) and percentage prostatic growth inhibition (Percent. I) by the extracts were calculated. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0 of Windows Stat Pac and p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The results showed that 500 and 1500 mg/kg b.wt. of Zo rhizome administered orally after exogenous injection of TP and BPH had been established for 15 days, significantly decreased (p=0.000) mean PV, PW, PI and PSA levels in treated rat groups compared with BPH induced rat groups. Both doses of the Zo extracts individually and in combination with dutasteride also markedly decreased (p=0.000) mean PV, PW, PI and PSA, indicating that there could be synergistic interaction between the Zo and the drug. Individual extract and in combination with dutasteride also produced high percentage inhibition of the prostate. Simultaneous administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Zo rhizome with TP injection for 30 days also showed anti-proliferative qualities, although the effects were statistically not better than values for treatments done when BPH was established before treatment. Ethanolic extracts of both Zo rhizome produced better effects compared to the aqueous extracts.

Conclusion: From the findings, we conclude that ginger rhizome could reduce and inhibit testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate in albino wistar rats and is suggested for further studies, especially in humans.