Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Effects of Anthocyanin Extracted from Black Soybean on Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigated the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean on the chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) rat model. METHODS: The Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups, including control, ciprofloxacin, anthocyanins and anthocyanins with ciprofloxacin groups (n=8 in each group). Then, drip infusion of bacterial suspension (Escherichia coli Z17 O2:K1:H-) into Sprague-Dawley rats was conducted to induce CBP. In 4 weeks, results of prostate tissue, urine culture, and histological analysis on the prostate were analyzed for each group. RESULTS: The use of ciprofloxacin, anthocyanins, and anthocyanins with ciprofloxacin showed statistically significant decreases in bacterial growth and improvements in the reduction of prostatic inflammation compared with the control group (P<0.05). The anthocyanins with ciprofloxacin group showed a statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvement in prostatic inflammation compared with the ciprofloxacin group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that anthocyanins may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, as well as a synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin. Therefore, we suggest that the combination of anthocyanins and ciprofloxacin may be effective in treating CBP to obtain a higher rate of treatment success.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a New Herbal Formula (WSY-1075) in a Nonbacterial Prostatitis Rat Model.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of a new herbal formula (WSY-1075) in a nonbacterial prostatitis rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostatitis was induced in male Wistar rats (n=32) by treatment with 17 beta-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone for 4 weeks. After the induction of prostatitis, the rats were randomly divided into one of four treatment groups: control (n=8), ciprofloxacin (n=8), WSY-1075 (100 mg/kg) (n=8), and WSY-1075 (400 mg/kg) (n=8). After 4 weeks of treatment, the prostatic proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-8) levels and histological findings were noted. RESULTS: The ciprofloxacin and WSY-1075 treatment groups showed significantly decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels compared with the control group. Histologically, treatment with ciprofloxacin and WSY-1075 significantly suppressed the severity of prostatitis lesions compared with those in the control group. No differences in the proinflammatory cytokine levels or histologic findings were observed with the dose dependent treatment of WSY-1075. CONCLUSIONS: The new herbal formula, WSY-1075, showed effective anti-inflammatory activities in the prostate and may be useful for the clinical treatment of nonbacterial prostatitis. Our findings suggest that WSY-1075 has a beneficial effect on the prevention and treatment of nonbacterial prostatitis.

Improvement of erectile function by Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) in a male rat model of metabolic syndrome.

The seriousness of metabolic syndrome is not due to the disease itself but its promotion of other diseases, such as erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. We investigated the effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG, Panax ginseng) extract on erectile function in a rat model of metabolic syndrome. We divided the rats into three groups: control, metabolic syndrome+normal saline (N/S) and metabolic syndrome+KRG. To determine the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in all groups, body weight and various biochemical parameters (e.g., blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol) were measured, and the intra-abdominal glucose tolerance test was performed. To investigate penile erection, the peak intracavernosal pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and Masson's trichrome stain were evaluated. Erectile function was also investigated by measuring the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels of the corpus cavernosum. We found that the various biochemical parameters and body weight were similar in the metabolic syndrome+KRG group and the control group, although the values were slightly higher. The peak ICP/MAP ratio of the metabolic syndrome+N/S group was markedly decreased compared to the other groups. The cGMP level of the corpus cavernosum in the metabolic syndrome+N/S group was significantly lower than that of the other groups. As demonstrated in this model of metabolic syndrome with erectile dysfunction, KRG may improve erectile function.

Preventive effect of ginsenoid on chronic bacterial prostatitis.

Empirical antibiotic therapy is the preferred primary treatment modality for chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). However, this method of treatment has a low success rate and long-term therapy may result in complications and the appearance of resistant strains. Therefore a new alternative method for the prevention of CBP is necessary. There are several reports that ginsenoid has a preventive effect on urinary tract infection (UTI). To evaluate the preventive effect of ginsenoid on CBP compared to conventional antibiotics, we carried out an experiment in a rat model of the disease. Four groups of adult male Wistar rats were treated with the following medications: (1) control (no medication), (2) ciprofloxacin, (3) ginsenoid, and (4) ciprofloxacin/ginsenoid. All medications were given for 4 weeks, and then we created a CBP model in the animals by injecting an Escherichia coli Z17 (O2:K1;H(-)) suspension into the prostatic urethra. After 4 weeks, results of microbiological cultures of prostate and urine samples, as well as histological findings of the prostate in each group were analyzed. The microbiological cultures of the prostate samples demonstrated reduced bacterial growth in all experimental groups compared with the control group. Histopathological examination showed a significantly decreased rate of infiltration of inflammatory cells into prostatic tissue and decreased interstitial fibrosis in the ginsenoid group compared with the control group. Inhibition of prostate infection was greater in the group receiving both ginsenoid and antibiotic than in the single-medication groups. Although the findings of this study suggest a preventive effect of ginsenoid, preventive methods for CBP are still controversial.

Do Escherichia coli extract and cranberry exert preventive effects on chronic bacterial prostatitis? Pilot study using an animal model.

Traditional first-line treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is administration of empirical antibiotics. However, the efficacy rate is low and long-term antibiotic therapy can result in adverse events and bacterial resistance. For these reasons, a new treatment or preventive modality that can replace traditional antibiotic therapy is required. There are several reports that E. coli extract has a preventive effect on recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). Cranberries are also known to have beneficial effects in preventing UTI. To evaluate the preventive effect of E. coli extract and cranberries on CBP, 48 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups; control, ciprofloxacin, E. coli extract, and cranberry groups. All drug treatments were conducted for 3 weeks, and then we developed a CBP rat model. After 4 weeks, the results of microbiological culture of prostate and urine samples as well as histological findings for the prostate were analyzed for each group. The infection rate in the ciprofloxacin group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The microbiological cultures of the prostate and urine samples demonstrated reduced bacterial growth in all experimental groups compared with the control group. Histopathologic examination showed significantly decreased prostatic inflammation in all groups compared with the control group. These results suggest that E. coli extract has a potential preventive effect on the development of CBP, and cranberry also exhibits promising activity in this context.

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of nanocatechin in a chronic bacterial prostatitis rat model.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is one of the most common relapsing urinary tract infection (UTI) in males. Catechin, an extract of green tea, is known to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects against various bacteria. However, catechin can be easily degenerated during digestion, and this may result in decreased absorption into the body. Nanocatechin is catechin coated with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose by nanotechnology. It reduces degeneration during digestion and enhances absorption of catechin into the body. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect of nanocatechin on CBP and also analyzed plasma concentration of catechins to evaluate absorptivity in an animal model. Forty rats demonstrating CBP were randomly divided into four groups: control, ciprofloxacin, catechin, and nanocatechin. After treatment, the results of microbiological culture of prostate and urine samples as well as histological findings of the prostate in each group were analyzed. Plasma concentration of catechins in catechin and nanocatechin groups was compared. The use of ciprofloxacin, catechin, and nanocatechin showed statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvement in prostatic inflammation compared with the control group. The nanocatechin group showed statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvement in prostatic inflammation compared with the catechin group. Plasma concentrations of epicatechin, gallocatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate were significantly higher in the nanocatechin group than those in the catechin group. These results suggest that nanocatechin has better antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects on rat CBP than catechin due to higher absorption into the body.

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of garlic and synergistic effect between garlic and ciprofloxacin in a chronic bacterial prostatitis rat model.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), which is characterised by recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) and persistence of pathogenic bacteria and evidence of inflammation in the prostatic secretions, is one of the most common causes of relapsing UTI in men. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic as well as the synergistic effect of garlic with ciprofloxacin on the treatment of CBP in an animal model. An experimental CBP model was induced in 60 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by instillation of 0.2 mL of bacterial suspension (Escherichia coli Z17, O2:K1:H-) containing 1 x 10(8) colony-forming units/mL into the prostatic urethra. Microbiologically and histologically proven CBP was demonstrated in 68.3% (41/60) of the rats after 4 weeks of bacterial instillation. The 41 rats demonstrating CBP were randomly divided into four treatment groups: control; garlic; ciprofloxacin; and garlic plus ciprofloxacin. After 3 weeks of treatment, microbiological cultures of the urine and prostate samples as well as histological findings of the prostate were analysed. Microbiological cultures and histological findings of the prostate samples demonstrated reduced bacterial growth and improved inflammatory responses in all three experimental groups compared with the control group. The garlic group showed a statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvement in prostatic inflammation compared with the control group. The garlic plus ciprofloxacin group showed a statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvement in prostatic inflammation compared with the ciprofloxacin group. These results suggest that garlic may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects as well as a synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin. We therefore suggest that the combination of garlic and ciprofloxacin may be effective in treating CBP with a higher success rate.

Elevation of intracavernous pressure and NO-cGMP activity by a new herbal formula in penile tissues of spontaneous hypertensive male rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We created a new herbal formulation that mainly consists of the seeds of Lycium chinense, Cornus officinalis, Rubus coreanus, Cuscuta chinensis and Schizandra chinensis. These materials have been long used by Korean people as they are known to be good for health and sexual function; hence we could say that their safety have been proven in a certain sense. We investigated the effects of this herbal formulation on the penile erection and corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive male Rats (SHRs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used male SHRs aged 16 weeks as a model of hypertension. The treatment groups received once a day oral doses of KH-204 at either 100 or 300mg/kg per day for 4 weeks. Distilled water was administered to the control group. To investigate the penile erection, the intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded in all groups. We analyzed the distribution of NOS by immunohistochemical staining and the expressions of nNOS and eNOS in the isolated corpus cavernosum were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: In the control group, the ICP/MAP ratio was 14.9+/-1.4% after pelvic nerve stimulation. The ICP/MAP ratio was markedly increased in the treatment group with KH-204 100 or 300mg/kg, compared with the control group. Immunohistochemical staining for NOS showed that eNOS and nNOS were stained as a brown color. Compared with the control group, the NOS activities of KH-204 100 or 300mg/kg were significantly increased. Also, the penile expression levels of nNOS and eNOS in the KH-204 100 and 300mg/kg treatment groups were more increased, and this was significant, than those of the control group, as was determined by Western blotting. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the KH-204 herbal formulation enhances intracavernous pressure and NO-cGMP activity in penile tissues of SHR male rats.

Salvia miltiorrhiza inhibits biliary obstruction-induced hepatocyte apoptosis by cytoplasmic sequestration of p53.

Cholestatic liver injury is caused by hepatocellular apoptosis induced by toxic bile salts. We have studied the effects of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza, on apoptotic cell death in bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats. We also attempted to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the hepatoprotective effects of S. miltiorrhiza in this animal model. A water extract of S. miltiorrhiza (Sm-X; 200 mg/kg; po) was administered to BDL rats for 10 days. Rats were euthanized and apoptosis was detected in liver tissue by TUNEL staining. Western blot analysis and immunostaining for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), Bax, Bcl-2, and p53 were performed. Results show that the treatment of BDL rats with Sm-X significantly improved the liver function parameters, although the expression of alpha-SMA, a marker of hepatic stellate cell activation, was not affected. Treatment with Sm-X significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells. A time-dependent decrease in Bax protein level and an increase in Bcl-2 protein level were observed in BDL rats treated with Sm-X. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that p53 was strongly positive in hepatocyte nuclei of BDL rats but that treatment with Sm-X induced a cytoplasmic sequestration of p53. Taken together, hepatoprotective effects of Sm-X partially ascribe to the antiapoptotic property in hepatocytes. Treatment of Sm-X-induced cytoplasmic sequestration of p53, downregulation of Bax, and upregulation of Bcl-2 protein. This study identifies and delineates signaling factors involved in the antiapoptotic properties of Sm-X and suggests a potential application of S. miltiorrhiza in the clinical management of hepatic disease induced by toxic bile salts following biliary obstruction.