Purple Corn Extract Improves Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Inhibiting 5 Alpha-Reductase Type 2 and Inflammation in Testosterone Propionate-Induced Rats

January 2025 in “ Frontiers in Pharmacology ”

Sung-Ok Kim, Arin Choi, Hee-Hwan Lee, Jae‐Yong Lee, Sang‐Jae Park, Byung‐Hak Kim

purple corn extract benign prostatic hyperplasia 5 alpha-reductase type 2 testosterone dihydrotestosterone androgen receptor NF-κB Nrf-2 PCE BPH 5α-reductase type 2 DHT

TLDR Purple corn extract may help reduce prostate enlargement and inflammation.

The study investigated the effects of purple corn extract (PCE) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using a testosterone propionate-induced rat model. PCE was found to reduce prostate enlargement and weight by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone through the inhibition of 5α-reductase type 2. Additionally, PCE decreased androgen receptor expression and signaling, reduced cell proliferation, and increased apoptotic cell death. It also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by regulating the NF-κB and Nrf-2 axis. These findings suggest that PCE's inhibition of 5α-reductase type 2 and its anti-inflammatory properties contribute to alleviating BPH symptoms.

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