Browsing by Author "Nwako, Chinwe Angela"

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    Exploiting plant parts of artocarpus heterophyllus (jack fruit tree) for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in male winstar rats
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2025-12) Nwako, Chinwe Angela
    Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological disorder affecting millions of men worldwide. This study employed a multi-analytical approach to evaluate the phytochemical, biochemical, nutritional, hematological, and histological properties of Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) stem bark, pulp, and leaf extracts, as well as their therapeutic effects in a testosterone propionate (TP)-induced prostate model in animals. Fifty five male winstar rats were divided into 11 groups of 5 rats each: Group 1 (normal control; feed and water only), Group 2 (negative control; BPH-induced with 5.0 mg/kg testosterone propionate), Group 3 (standard control; BPH-induced and treated with 5 mg/kg finasteride), and Groups 4–11 treated with various doses (250 or 500 mg/kg b.w.) of leaf, stem bark, pulp, or combined extracts for 21 days. Analysis of serum prostatespecific antigen (PSA) levels showed that the negative control group (1.34 ± 0.05 to 1.37 ± 0.08 ng/mL) exhibited no significant change, while TP-treated groups receiving extracts demonstrated significant reductions. Group 3 showed a PSA decrease from 2.98 ± 0.03 to 1.50 ± 0.11 ng/mL (~49.7%), Group 11 exhibited a similar reduction from 2.94 ± 0.08 to 1.48 ± 0.04 ng/mL (~49.7%), and Group 7 showed a decrease from 2.91 ± 0.05 to 1.53 ± 0.07 ng/mL (~47.4%), while moderate reductions occurred in Group 4 (2.98 ± 0.08 to 2.19 ± 0.16 ng/mL) and Group 8 (3.01 ± 0.04 to 2.29 ± 0.07 ng/mL). These results indicate dose-dependent and extract-specific effects likely mediated by flavonoids, tannins, and artocarpin through attenuation of oxidative stress, suppression of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g.IL-6 ). Acute toxicity testing confirmed safety up to 5000 mg/kg with no adverse behavioral or physiological effects. GC–MS identified 64, 94, and 48 compounds in stem bark, pulp, and leaf extracts respectively, including n-hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, cisvaccenic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and squalene, associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. FTIR revealed hydroxyl, alkane, sulfur, nitro, nitrogenous, and aromatic functional groups across the extracts, indicating chemical diversity. Nutritional profiling showed proline (42.16 ppm) dominance in stem bark; threonine (16.39 ppm), isoleucine (10.06 ppm), and arginine (9.16 ppm) abundance in leaves; and high tyrosine (29.70 ppm), tryptophan (3.61 ppm), methionine (2.54 ppm), cystine (1.62 ppm), and glutamate (4.85 ppm) in pulp. Vitamins C, E, and A were highest in the leaf extract (22.14, 9.32, and 6.48 mg/100 g, respectively), alongside thiamine (0.45–0.61 mg/100 g), riboflavin (0.38–0.55 mg/100 g), and niacin (1.26– 1.85 mg/100 g). Mineral analysis showed high potassium (215.64 mg/100 g), calcium (128.54 mg/100 g), and magnesium (87.61 mg/100 g), with trace zinc (2.48–3.11 mg/100 g) and iron (6.84–7.96 mg/100 g). Histology revealed normal hepatic structure in controls, severe degeneration in untreated toxicant groups, and hepatoprotection in extract-treated rats, especially pulp and stem bark extracts, which restored hepatocyte architecture. In the BPH model, untreated rats had elevated absolute (0.85 ± 0.21 g) and relative (0.43 ± 0.10 g) prostate weights compared to controls (0.41 ± 0.05 g and 0.24 ± 0.05 g), while stem and combination extracts (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced prostate weights to near-control levels, comparable to finasteride. These reductions were accompanied by lowered serum testosterone, PSA, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, supporting antiandrogenic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Hematological results showed stable WBC counts (99.90 ± 0.00 ×10⁹/L) with slight decreases in pulp (500 mg) and combination extract groups, elevated lymphocytes in the negative control (54.30 ± 3.52%) versus control (27.67 ± 0.81%), and increased hemoglobin (up to 18.30 ± 2.39 g/dL) and RBC counts (up to 14.80 ± 3.20 ×10¹²/dL) in treated groups. MCV, MCH, and MCHC values remained within normal ranges, and platelet counts (8806–9933 ×10⁹/L) were stable. Overall, the findings demonstrate that A. heterophyllus extracts possess significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-BPH properties, with strong safety profiles and diverse biochemical and nutritional potentials that support their therapeutic use against androgen-mediated prostate diso