Radosław Kujawski¹, Natalia Derebecka-Hołysz¹, Przemysław Mikołajczak ^1,2, Przemysław Mrozikiewicz¹, Teresa Bobkiewicz – Kozłowska²

¹ Research Institute of Medicinal Plants, 27 Libelta Street, 61-707 Poznan

² Poznan University of Medical Science, Chair and Department of Pharmacology , Rokietnicka 5a Street, 60-806 Poznan

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common illness of aging men connected with increase of number of prostate gland cells (hyperplasia) and enlargement of the cells size (hypertrophy). A key role in the prostate enlargement plays disturbance of the equilibrium of steroid hormones and elevated level of the 5-α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) converted from testosterone by 5-α-reductase. The principal aim of the therapy in BPH is the inhibition of the human prostate cells proliferation. Classical therapeutic approach in BPH is the inhibition of the 5-α-reductase activity. However, in advanced prostate enlargement disease we apply synthetic drugs but in the benignity of this illness and for the prevention we have a number of traditional herbal medicines i.e.: Epilobium sp., Serrenoa repens, Pygeum africanum, Urtica dioica Cucurbita pepo, Zea mays. The mechanism of action of natural herbal drugs is not clear. We undertake to search of molecular mechanism of action of Epilobium angustifolium extract in prostate cells.

We have examined the influence of Epilobium angustifolium extract on 5-α-reductase type 1 mRNA expression in a dorsal lobe of the rat prostate gland by two step real-time RT-PCR method using Light Cycler (Roche) applying gene-specific FRET hybridisation probes.

Particular groups of male Wistar race rats were castrated in fourth week of life. Rats were orally treated for 21 days with one of the following substances: arachoid oil (control), testosterone, testosterone with Epilobium angustifolium extract, testosterone and finansteride. Total cellular RNA was extracted from prostate glands by modified Chomczynski and Sacchi method. The reverse transcription step was performed according to the standard protocol (Revert Aid™ M-MuLV Reverse Transcriptase). Obtained cDNA was used in real-time PCR reaction.

We have shown that Epilobium angustifolium extract could slight inhibit 5-α-reductase activity and it may be an alternative path in prostate disorders treatment for synthetic remedies with regard to side effects limitation and the therapy charges reduction.

Applied method was repetitive, specific and sensitive. It may become, along with immunological data, an effective tool for evaluation of efficacy of phytotherapy in prevention and treatment of BPH.

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