Serenoa repens and Urtica dioica Fixed Combination: In-Vitro Validation of a Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 23; p. 9178
• Main Authors: Saponaro, Miriam, Giacomini, Isabella, Morandin, Giulia, Cocetta, Veronica, Ragazzi, Eugenio, Orso, Genny, Carnevali, Ilaria, Berretta, Massimiliano, Mancini, Mariangela, Pagano, Francesco, Montopoli, Monica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 02.12.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Aging; Anti-inflammatory agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antioxidants; BPH; Cell growth; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cytokines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enlargement; Humans; Hyperplasia; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Male; NF-κB protein; Oxidative stress; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia - drug therapy; Serenoa - chemistry; Serenoa repens; Stromal cells; Urogenital system; Urtica dioica; Urtica dioica - chemistry; Urtica dioica; Serenoa repens; BPH; inflammation; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239178

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related chronic disorder, characterized by the hyperproliferation of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells, which drives prostate enlargement. Since BPH aetiology and progression have been associated with the persistence of an inflammatory stimulus, induced both by Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the inhibition of these pathways could result in a good tool for its clinical treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of a combined formulation of and (SR/UD) in an in vitro human model of BPH. The results confirmed both the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory effects of SR/UD. In fact, SR/UD simultaneously reduced ROS production, NF-κB translocation inside the nucleus, and, consequently, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) production. Furthermore, the effect of SR/UD was also tested in a human androgen-independent prostate cell model, PC3. SR/UD did not show any significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, but was able to reduce NF-κB translocation. Taken together, these results suggested a promising role of SR/UD in BPH and BPH-linked disorder prevention.