ABSTRACT
Title
Effects of flavocoxid, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes, on benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Authors
A. Bitto1, D. Altavilla1, N. Irrera1, F. Polito2, S. Arena3, L. Minutoli1, H. Marini2, F. Squadrito1 .
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology –Section of Pharmacology– University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
2 Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Physiology and Human Nutrition, University of Messina, Italy.
3 Department of Urology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology –Section of Pharmacology– University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
2 Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Physiology and Human Nutrition, University of Messina, Italy.
3 Department of Urology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Abstract
Inflammation plays a key role in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and products derived from the cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) are significantly elevated in the overgrowing prostate. Flavocoxid is a novel flavonoid–based “dual inhibitor” of the COX and 5-LOX enzymes. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of flavocoxid in experimental BPH.
Rats were treated, daily, with testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg/sc) or its vehicle for 14 days. Testosterone administered animals were randomized to receive vehicle (1 ml/kg, ip) or flavocoxid (20 mg/kg, ip) for 14 days.
Flavocoxid reduced prostate weight and hyperplasia, blunted the augmented expression of COX-2 and 5-LOX as well as the increased production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) an leukotriene B4 (LTB4), enhanced the pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-9 and decreased the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA. Flavocoxid reduced also the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) expression.
The data obtained from the present study indicate that a “dual inhibitor” of the COX and 5-LOX enzymes, such as flavocoxid, might represent a rationale therapeutic approach to reduce benign prostate growth.
Rats were treated, daily, with testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg/sc) or its vehicle for 14 days. Testosterone administered animals were randomized to receive vehicle (1 ml/kg, ip) or flavocoxid (20 mg/kg, ip) for 14 days.
Flavocoxid reduced prostate weight and hyperplasia, blunted the augmented expression of COX-2 and 5-LOX as well as the increased production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) an leukotriene B4 (LTB4), enhanced the pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-9 and decreased the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA. Flavocoxid reduced also the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) expression.
The data obtained from the present study indicate that a “dual inhibitor” of the COX and 5-LOX enzymes, such as flavocoxid, might represent a rationale therapeutic approach to reduce benign prostate growth.