JENNIFER OSABUOGBE

Benign prostate hyperplasia is a disease of ageing men. Oxidative stress is a promoter of the ageing process. This study evaluated the effect of the aqueous fraction of the ethanol leaf extract of Cassia alata l.[fabaceae] on antioxidant and lipid per oxidation status of male rats induced with benign prostate hyperplasia. Six groups of six rats each were induced with benign prostate hyperplasia by the subcutaneous administration of testosterone (4mg/kg). Groups 1, 2, and 3 received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of the fraction respectively. Group 5 rats (negative control) received 10 ml/kg of distilled water. Group 4 animals (standard control) were treated with finasteride (5mg/kg) while Group 5 rats (negative control) received 10 ml/kg of distilled water. Group 6 animals (normal control) were neither induced nor treated. All administration was daily for 28 days by oral gavage. Rats were sacrificed on the 29th day, blood was obtained, and serum enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured with Elisa assay test kits. Malondialdehyde concentration was equally measured. The extract did not significantly (P<0.05) increase the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx compared to the negative control, while MDA concentration was also not significant.