Purpose: To explore the effects of
Phellodendron chinense
Schneid (PCS) extract on chlamydiainduced
chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP).
Methods: Sixty 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Prostate index (PI) and
prostate specific antigen (PSA) were determined after 4 weeks of oral administration of PCS extract (80,
160 or 320 mg/kg) or tetracycline (80 mg/kg) and compared to PI and PSA in untreated rats with CBP
and healthy control rats (n = 10). Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates, acinar changes, and interstitial
fibrosis were evaluated by histopathological examination. In addition, pertinent inflammatory factors,
including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),
prostaglandin E
2 (PEG
2), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and connective tissue growth factor
(CTGF), were measured in prostate tissues using ELISA kits.
Results: High doses of PCS (160 and 320 mg/kg) significantly decreased PI and PSA relative to model
group (p < 0.01). PCS treatment also significantly reduced chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates and
interstitial fibrosis in prostate tissue of CBP rats. In addition, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, PEG
2, TGF-β1, and
CTGF decreased in PCS-treated rats compared to untreated control (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: PCS extract has significant anti-inflammatory effects on chlamydia-induced CBP.
