The usefulness of diet containing
Telefairia occidentalis
seeds, in managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in
rats was studied. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups. BPH was induced by sub-cutaneous injection
of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate (ratio, 10:1) every other day for 28 days. Rats in the test group were
placed on the test diet for 7 days following disease induction. One control group (DC) was fed on a normal diet for 7 days
following disease induction. Two other control groups, HC and HDC, were given sub-cutaneous olive oil (vehicle) for the
same duration, and placed on the test diet and normal diet, respectively. Markers of BPH, and hormone profile were
determined using standard methods. The results show that relative prostate weight and protein content of the prostates were
lower [albeit not significantly (p>0.05)] in the test group, relative to the DC group. Serum prostatic acid phosphatase
concentrations (U/L) decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 2.9 ± 0.2 in the DC group to 2.1 ± 0.7 in the test group.
Histological findings corroborate these data. The testosterone: estradiol ratio (×10
3
) was increased from 4.0 ± 0.2 in the DC
group to 4.6 ± 0.2 in the test group. The test diet reduced the mass and secretory activity of the enlarged prostate and may act
by increasing the testosterone: estradiol ratio.
