Effect of fractions of kolaviron on some indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats: identification of the constituents of the bioactive fraction using GC-MS

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of fractions of kolaviron on some biochemical parameters in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rats and also characterized the most active fraction (F1) using GC-MS. BPH was induced in the rats by sub-cutaneous injection of dihydrotestosterone and estradiol valerate (10 : 1) daily for 28 days. Rats were euthanized on the 29^th day and analysis was carried out following standard techniques. The body weights, relative prostate weights, serum prostate specific antigen, estradiol and prostatic levels of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in the disease control were altered (P < 0.05) compared with the normal control. Finasteride (5 mg/70 kg), kolaviron (200 mg kg⁻¹) or F1 fraction (100 mg kg⁻¹) ameliorated these parameters when compared with the disease the control unlike fractions F2 and F3. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical assay of the G. kola flour indicated the absence of alkaloids but the presence of flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins and saponins with equivalent composition of 2.67 g/100 g, 3.11 g/100 g, 1.08 g/100 g and 2.35 g/100 g respectively. GC-MS analysis of the F1 fraction indicated the presence of 10 compounds with identified biological activities namely: phenol, 1,2-benzenediol, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, n-hexadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, octadecanoic acid, di-n-octyl phthalate and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl)ester respectively. The anti-BPH properties of the F1 fraction could be attributed to the compounds in it with 5-alpha reductase inhibitory, anti-androgenic and antioxidant properties.