Exploiting plant parts of artocarpus heterophyllus (jack fruit tree) for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in male winstar rats
Date
2025-12
Authors
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
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
Description
This thesis is for the award of Doctor of Philosophy(PhD.) in Medical Biochemistry
Keywords
Exploiting, plant, artocarpus heterophyllus, treatment, benign prostatic, hyperplasia, winstar rats, Department of Biochemistry
Citation
Nwako, C. A. (2025). Exploiting plant parts of artocarpus heterophyllus (jack fruit tree) for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in male winstar rats [Unpublished Doctoral Thesis]. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria