A histological study of the effect of panax ginseng versus finasteride on induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats with potentiality of spontaneous recovery

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common non-malignant overgrowth of human prostate in old age that greatly affects patient’s quality of life. Finasteride, one of the routinely available regimens for BPH, caused several drawbacks. Recently a natural herbal product, ginseng, had shown a promising influence on various disorders through anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects.Aim of the Work: To compare the effect of panax ginseng versus finasteride on BPH. Together with evaluation of the spontaneous improvement of hyperplastic features.Materials and Methods: Fifty five adult albino rats were divided into 2 groups: control and experimental groups. BPH was induced by subcutaneous injection of testosterone (3 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Then the animals were subdivided equally into 4 subgroups: BPH was sacrificed at end of 4th week, Recovery was left untreated for another 4 weeks, Finasteride & Ginseng treated subgroups received oral administration of finasteride (5 mg/kg/day) & ginseng (200 mg/kg/day) respectively for another 4 weeks. Serum DHT level and weight of prostate glands were measured. Prostatic sections were stained with toluidine blue, H&E, Masson trichrome and immunohistochemical stain for PCNA and α SMA. Additionally, the sections were subjected to morphometric and statistical analysis.Results: BPH subgroup showed signs of hyperplasia of both epithelial and stromal cells while minimal improvement was demonstrated in the recovery subgroup. Finasteride treated subgroup showed apparent incomplete restoration of normal prostatic histological structure. While nearly normal histological architecture, biochemical & morphometric parameters were recorded in ginseng treated subgroup.Conclusion: Ginseng proved to have a therapeutic effect superior to finasteride through its anti-mitotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Discontinuation of testosterone administration resulted in inconsiderable regression of BPH.