Effect of Radix Mirabilis Jalapae on Experimental Prostatic Hyperplasia in Mice

[Objective] To explore the effect of Radix Mirabilis Jalapae (RMJ) on experimental prostatk: hyperplasia in mice. [Methods] Sixty NIH mice were randomized into blank control group, model group, finasteride tablets (1mg·kg-1·d-1) group and water extract of RMJ (150g·kg-1·d-1) group. Except the blank control group, the mice in other groups were injected with testosterone propionate ( 5 mg·kg-1 · d-1 ) subcutaneously for 21 days to induce experimental prostatie hyperplasia and then were treated with the corresponding drugs for 30 days according to the experimental design. The blank control group was treated with normal saline. After treatment, the wet weight of prostate gland was detected, and the serum levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were examined with radioimmunoassay method. [Results] The wet weight of prostate gland and the serum levels of T and DHT were increased in the model group, the difference being significant compared with the blank control group ( P 0.01) . RMJ and fmasteride tablets decreased the wet weight of prostate gland and the serum levels of T and DHT (P 0.01 compared with the model group), but the difference of effect between RMJ and finasteride tablets was not significant ( P 0.05 ) . [ Conclusion ] RMJ has an inhibitory effect on prostatic hyperplasia and this may be related to the inhibition of the transformation of DHT from T.