Inhibitory effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban on enlarged prostate through androgen receptor and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways

Taraxacum mongolicum total triterpenoids and taraxasterol ameliorate benign prostatic hyperplasia by inhibiting androgen levels, inflammatory responses, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the TGFβ1/Smad signalling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. is a well-known plant used both medicinally and as food, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions to alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the material basis and molecular mechanisms of T. mongolicum alone in improving BPH remain unclear. In recent years, triterpenoids have been considered to be a key chemical constituents for T. mongolicum to exert its biological activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of total triterpenoids from T. mongolicum (TTM) and its active constituents against BPH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical components of TTM were determined using UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis. We established a testosterone propionate (TP)-induced rat model of BPH to assess the potential of TTM in vivo. Subsequently, network pharmacology was combined with experimental results from a TGFβ1-stimulated BPH-1 cell model to reveal the molecular mechanism of TTM. The main active ingredient (taraxasterol, TAR) of TTM was screened by evaluating its antiproliferative ability against BPH-1 and WPMY cells. Eventually, RNA-sequencing, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting were employed to elucidate the potential molecular targets and signalling pathways of TAR in BPH rats.

RESULTS

TTM was mainly composed of ten pentacyclic triterpenoids and one phytosterol, including TAR, lupeol, β-amyrin, taraxerol, and their acetates. TTM ameliorated TP-induced BPH by decreasing androgen levels and repressing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Furthermore, TTM inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition via impeding the TGFβ1/Smad signalling pathway in BPH-1 cells based on the network pharmacology. Among the main chemical components of TTM, TAR exerted the strongest antiproliferative activity in vitro, and inhibited the growth of BPH-1 and WPMY-1 cells in a concentration dependent manner. Importantly, TAR also reduced androgen levels and inflammatory responses to balance proliferation and apoptosis in BPH rats. Transcriptomic analysis showed that TAR attenuated collagen deposition in BPH by inhibiting ECM-receptor interaction pathway. In addition, TAR notably suppressed EMT and the TGFβ1/Smad signalling in BPH rats, as evidenced by reduced the protein levels of collagen I, a-SMA, Snail, TGFβ1, p-Smad2/Smad2, and p-Smad3/Smad3, alongside an increase in E-cadherin expression.

CONCLUSIONS

TTM or TAR could effectively improve TP-induced BPH by suppressing androgen levels, inflammatory response, and EMT via the TGFβ1/Smad signalling pathway. These findings may present new therapeutic approachs for BPH in clinical settings. Notably, this study is the first to systematically elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of triterpenoids from T. mongolicum in treating BPH.

Mechanisms and Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases in elderly men, the incidence of which gradually increases with age and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are widely used for the treatment of BPH in China and some other countries. To explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs for BPH, we conducted a review based on peer-reviewed English-language publications in PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception to December 31, 2023. This article primarily reviewed 32 papers on the use of CHMs and its active compounds in the treatment of BPH, covering animal and cell experiments, and identified relevant mechanisms of action. The results suggest that the mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating BPH may involve the regulation of sex hormones, downregulation of cell growth factors, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, inhibition of cell proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis. CHMs also exhibit α-blocker-like effects, with the potential to relax urethral smooth muscle and alleviate LUTS. Additionally, we also reviewed 4 clinical trials and meta-analyses of CHMs for the treatment of BPH patients, which provided initial evidence of the safety and effectiveness of CHMs treatment. CHMs treatment for BPH shows advantages as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway therapy, which can mitigate the severity of the disease, improve LUTS, and may become a reliable treatment option in the future.

Targeting HMGB1/PI3K/Akt and NF-κB/Nrf-2 signaling pathways by vildagliptin mitigates testosterone-induced benign prostate hyperplasia in rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent illness in older adults. It is well-recognized that testosterone is essential in the onset of BPH. Vildagliptin (Vilda), a dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we studied the effects of vildagliptin on testosterone-induced BPH in rats and its underlying mechanisms. Forty male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups (n = 10): CTRL, Vilda, BPH, and BPH + Vilda groups. Our results revealed that vildagliptin treatment considerably lessened the prostate weight, prostate index, serum levels of prostate-specific antigen, 5α-reductase activity, and DHT levels compared to the testosterone group. Furthermore, vildagliptin treatment inhibited the expression of HMGB1, PI3K/Akt/NF-κB, and TNF-α signaling pathways in the prostate tissue of diseased rats. Additionally, vildagliptin treatment increased the expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1, reduced GSH levels, and lowered MDA levels. Besides, vildagliptin noticeably scaled up the level of cleaved caspase-3 enzyme and, conversely, the protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Correspondingly, vildagliptin counteracts testosterone-induced histological irregularities in rats' prostates. These findings suggest that vildagliptin may be a potential prophylactic approach to avoid BPH.

Advances in Molecular Regulation of Prostate Cancer Cells by Top Natural Products of Malaysia

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains both a global health burden and a scientific challenge. We present a review of the molecular targets driving current drug discovery to fight this disease. Moreover, the preventable nature of most PCa cases represents an opportunity for phytochemicals as chemopreventive when adequately integrated into nutritional interventions. With a renovated interest in natural remedies as a commodity and their essential role in cancer drug discovery, Malaysia is looking towards capitalizing on its mega biodiversity, which includes the oldest rainforest in the world and an estimated 1200 medicinal plants. We here explore whether the list of top Malay plants prioritized by the Malaysian government may fulfill the potential of becoming newer, sustainable sources of prostate cancer chemotherapy. These include Andrographis paniculate, Centella asiatica, Clinacanthus nutans, Eurycoma longifolia, Ficus deltoidea, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Marantodes pumilum (syn. Labisia pumila), Morinda citrifolia, Orthosiphon aristatus, and Phyllanthus niruri. Our review highlights the importance of resistance factors such as Smac/DIABLO in cancer progression, the role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in cancer metastasis, and the regulation of PCa cells by some promising terpenes (andrographolide, Asiatic acid, rosmarinic acid), flavonoids (isovitexin, gossypin, sinensetin), and alkylresorcinols (labisiaquinones) among others.