[Grape seed extract inhibits the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells. METHODS: PC-3 cells were treated with GSE at the concentration of 100, 200 and 300 microg/ml for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. The the inhibitory effect of GSE on the growth of the PC-3 cells and the kidney cells of SD rats was determined by MTT reduction assay, with primarily cultured kidney cells of 1-3 days old SD rats as the normal control. RESULTS: GSE significantly inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but had only a mild inhibitory effect on the kidney cells. CONCLUSION: GSE inhibits the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and can be used as a new drug for the treatment of prostate cancer.

[Grape seed extract induces morphological changes of prostate cancer PC-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the morphological changes of prostate cancer PC-3 cells induced by grape seed extract (GSE). METHODS: PC-3 cells were incubated with different concentrations of GSE (100, 200 and 300 microg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours, and then observed for morphological changes by invert microscopy, HE staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The incubated PC-3 cells appeared round, small, wrinkled and broken under the invert microscope and exhibited the classical morphological characteristics of cell death under the electron microscope, including cell atrophy, increased vacuoles, crumpled nuclear membrane, and chromosome aggregation. CONCLUSION: GSE can cause morphological changes and induce necrosis and apoptosis of PC-3 cells.

[Longqingpian combined with levofloxacin highly effective for type IIIA prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic efficacy of Longqingpian combined with Levofloxacin on Type IIIA prostatitis. METHODS: Eighty patients with Type IIIA prostatitis were equally randomized into a Longqingpian group and a Puleanpian group, both treated for 12 weeks. The former were given Longqingpian (once 6 tablets, twice a day) combined with Levofloxacin (once 0.2 g, twice a day) during the first 4 weeks, followed by Longqingpian alone (once 6 tablets, twice a day) for 8 weeks. The latter received Puleanpian (once 4 tablets, 3 times a day) combined with Levofloxacin (once 0.2 g, twice a day) in the initial 4 weeks, followed by Puleanpian alone (once 4 tablets, 3 times a day) for 8 weeks. Before and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the treatment, all the patients were evaluated by The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and EPS examination. RESULTS: After 4-week, 8-week and 12-week treatment, total score of NIH-CPSI, and the score of pain, voiding symptoms and the quality of life dropped significantly in both groups compared with pre-treatment (P < 0.05 or 0.01), so did the leukocyte count in EPS (P < 0.05). Compared with the 4-week treatment, total score of NIH-CPSI, and the score of pain, voiding symptoms and the quality of life were shown to be significantly different (P < 0.05) in the Longqingpian group from the 8-week and 12-week treatment, except the leukocyte count in EPS. However, there was no significant difference between the 8-week and 12-week treatment in any of the indexes (P > 0.05). Longqingpian effected significant differences in the above indexes (P < 0.05), while Puleanpian did not after the treatment (P > 0.05). And the lecithin Amato body analysis revealed no significant changes in EPS after the treatment in either group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Longqingpian combined with Levofloxacin is highly effective for Type IIIA prostatitis, by relieving pain and voiding symptoms, decreasing the leukocyte count in EPS and improving the life quality of the patients.