Influence of Epilobium angustifolium and Serenoa repens extracts on cytochrome 2D2 and 3A1 expression level in rats
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease affecting aging males. In recent
years, as alternative strategy for the prevention and therapy of BPH, there is an growing
interest in usage of plant derived remedies i.e. from Serenoa repens (sabal palm) and some plants from the Epilobium genus. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of
standardized Epilobium angustifolium L. and Serenoa repens extracts on expression level of
CYP3A1 and CYP2D2 mRNAs in rats. Testosterone and standardized Epilobium angustifolium
or commercial Serenoa repens extracts were given for 21 days to castrated male Wistar rats.
The levels of CYP2D2 and CYP3A1 mRNAs expression were analyzed by real-time quantitative
PCR using specific target primers.
We have observed a slightly increased level of CYP2D2 mRNA in animals treated with testosterone
and both plant extracts (by 4.6% in rats receiving Epilobium angustifolium extract
and by 25.29% in animals treated with extract from Serenoa repens) and the CYP3A1 mRNA
level by 11.02% in rats treated with Serenoa repens extract. In rats receiving E. angustifolium
extract a 20.22% decrease of CYP3A1 mRNA expression level was observed.
Results from our work showed that standardized plant extracts from Epilobium angustifolium
and Serenoa repens have differentially influenced on CYP3A1 and CYP2D2 mRNA expression
level in a rat liver.