Effect of Allium cepa (Onion) Bulb and Annona muricata (Soursop) Pulp Juices on Body Weight, Prostate Weight, Selected Hormones and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in Testosterone and Oestradiol-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Albino Rats

Aim: This study investigated the effect of soursop pulp and onion bulb juice samples on body weight, prostate weight (PW), percentage prostate increase inhibition (PPII), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), prolactin and PSA levels in testosterone and oestradiol-induced BPH in albino rats.

Study Design: The simple random design was used in this study.

Place and Duration of Study: Dave Research House, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria, between April 2022 and July 2022.

Methodology: Fifty-four (54) male albino rats were randomly distributed into 9 groups (A-I) of 6 rats each, with B to I induced with 10 mg/kg b.w of exogenous hormones (1:1) every 2 days. They were treated as follows: A (normal control), B (BPH control), C (standard control), D (10 ml/kg b.w soursop), E (10 ml/kg b.w onion), F (10 ml/kg b.w, 1:1 soursop and onion), G (20 ml/kg b.w soursop), H (20 ml/kg b.w onion), and I (20 ml/kg b.w, 1:1 soursop and onion), for 28 days. The rats were weighed weekly. At the end of the treatment, they were euthanized, prostate and serum samples were collected for further assessments.

Results: The results showed that at low dose, the body weights of the rats were maintained. The single samples at low dose improved PW and PPII better. DHT and T levels reduced in all test groups, and the standard control. The single samples reduced DHT levels with increase in concentration, while the soursop juice and combination samples decreased testosterone levels with increase in concentration. Prolactin levels significantly (p<.05) reduced in the test groups and standard control when compared with the BPH control. While, PSA levels also decreased in the test groups, but were not significantly (p>.05) different from the controls.

Conclusion: The study suggested that soursop pulp and onion bulb juices exerted ameliorative effects on BPH, especially individually, and at the low dose studied. Hence, their consumption by older males should be encouraged.