Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by natural drugs

Csikós, Eszter (author), Sollner Dolenc, Marija (author), Kenda, Maša (author), Kočevar Glavač, Nina (author), Farkas, Ágnes (author)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common urinary diseases affecting men, generally after the age of 50. The prevalence of this multifactorial disease increases with age. With aging, the plasma level of testosterone decreases, as well as the testosterone/estrogen ratio, resulting in increased estrogen activity, which may facilitate the hyperplasia of the prostate cells. Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the activity of the enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT. In older men, the activity of this enzyme increases, leading to a decreased testosterone/DHT ratio. DHT may promote prostate cell growth, resulting in hyperplasia. Some medicinal plants and their compounds act by modulating this enzyme, and have the abovementioned targets. This review focuses on herbal drugs that are most widely used in the treatment of BPH, including pumpkin seed, willow herb, tomato, maritime pine bark, Pygeum africanum bark, rye pollen, saw palmetto fruit, and nettle root, highlighting the latest results of preclinical and clinical studies, as well as safety issues. In addition, the pharmaceutical care and other therapeutic options of BPH, including pharmacotherapy and surgical options, are discussed, summarizing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy.

• Language: English
• Keywords: benign prostatic hyperplasia, medicinal plants, phytotherapy, saw palmetto, preclinical studies, clinical efficacy, safety issues
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 32 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 26, iss. 23, art. 7141
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136713
• UDC: 616.65-007.61
• ISSN on article: 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237141
• COBISS.SI-ID: 86644739
• Publication date in RUL: 17.05.2022

CSIKÓS, Eszter, SOLLNER DOLENC, Marija, KENDA, Maša, KOČEVAR GLAVAČ, Nina and FARKAS, Ágnes, 2021, Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by natural drugs. Molecules [online]. 2021. Vol. 26, no. 23,  7141. [Accessed 1 April 2025]. DOI 10.3390/molecules26237141. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=136713

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Molecules
• Shortened title: Molecules
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1420-3049
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18462981

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.12.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: predklinične študije, klinična učinkovitost, varnostne težave

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: Erasmus+, Key Action 2: Strategic Partnerships
• Project number: 2020-1-CZ01-KA203-078218
• Name: Open Access Educational Materials on Naturally Occurring Molecules