Effect of Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn extract on chronic prostatitis in rats

Purpose: To study the effect of Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn. extract (APLE) on chronic prostatitis in rats.Methods: Experimental chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP) was induced in rats by injecting carrageenan into prostate. Rats in drug-treated groups were administered APLE or cernilton (positive control, i.e., reference standard) for 3 weeks while rats in normal and negative control groups were treated with saline at the same time. After treatment, prostate index (PI) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of all the rats were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the relative inflammatory factors, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PEG2), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) of the prostate tissues were measured by ELISA.Results: A high dose of APLE (480 mg/kg) significantly decreased PI (0.7 ± 0.2 mg/g) relative to reference group (2.8 ± 0.3 mg/g, p < 0.01), and significantly decreased PSA level (128.6 ± 12.3 pg/mL) relative to reference group (321.3 ± 16.4 pg/mL, p < 0.01). Compared with reference group, TNF-α level (109.7 ± 9.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01), IL-1β level (98.3 ± 12.5 pg/mL, p < 0.01), PEG2 level (81.5 ± 4.2 pg/mL, p < 0.01), COX-2 level (10.5 ± 2.6 pg/mL, p < 0.01), TGF-β1 level (86.8 ± 7.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01) and CTGF level (70.3 ± 4.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01) of prostate tissues of high-dose APLE group rats decreased significantly.Conclusion: APLE shows significant anti-chronic prostatitis activity in rats. Further studies are, however, required to ascertain its therapeutic potentials in humansKeywords: Alisma plantago-aquatica, Chronic prostatitis, Inflammation, Prostate index, Morphometric analysis, Interstitial fibrosis