The Effect of Xialiqi Capsule on Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common among elderly men, of which inflammation, oxidative stress, proliferative, and apoptotic changes play important roles. Xialiqi (XLQ) capsule, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is used as a potential drug in treating BPH. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of XLQ capsule on testosterone propionate-(TP-) induced BPH in rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham control, BPH model, high and low dose of XLQ, and finasteride as a positive control group. All groups were treated with appropriate drugs/normal saline for 28 consecutive days. Prostate weights were recorded; histopathological changes and content of IL-8, TNF-alpha, DHT, SOD, MDA, caspase-3, and PCNA of the prostate were determined. Animals with BPH demonstrated significantly increased prostate weights and prostate index, higher levels of IL-8, TNF-alpha, DHT, MDA, and PCNA, but lower activity of SOD and reduced expression of caspase-3. After treatment with XLQ, significant reductions of prostate weights, prostate index, IL-8, TNF-alpha, DHT, MDA, and PCNA, increased activity of SOD, and higher level of caspase-3 were shown. The present study indicates that XLQ can effectively prevent the development of TP-induced BPH model through mechanisms of anti-inflammation, antioxidation, antiproliferation, and proapoptosis.