Protective Effects Of Maca Extract And Lycopene Ontestosterone Propionate-induced Prostatic Hyperplasia In Mice

Lycopene is a member of carotenoids with strong antioxidant activity. Intake of lycopene was linked to lower risk of atherosclerosis and other chronic diseases. Maca(Lepidium meyenii Walp), belonging to the plant family of Brassicaceae, is used traditionally to enhance sexual desire and fertility. It also have many other biological properties. Recent studies have revealed that maca or lycopene along have inhibitory effect on BPH. But whether the main efficacy substance of maca aqueous extract on prostate hyperplasia is benzyl glucosinolates and co-administration of maca with lycopene could obtain more effective treatment of the BPH in mice is still unknown. While the specific biological functions of Z-isomers and which inhibitive effect of all-E lycopene and Z-isomers is better are still unknowed. In this study, the inhibitory effects of benzyl glucosinolates,Maca, all-E lycopene and their combination on the BPH in mice were explored and compared.The reflux extraction of benzyl glucosinolates in dry maca hypocotyls was investigated by single factor and orthogonal experiments. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: microwave intensity of 150 W for 80 s, ratio of solid to liquid 1:70, extraction at 90℃ for 80 min and 1 time. The main components of the glucosinolates in maca extract are benzyl glucosinolates. In TP-induced BPH group, prostatic epithelial cell proliferation occurred, the epithelial cell layers of the prostate were larger and prostate weight and PI were significantly higher compared with the control group. The treatment with maca and benzyl glucosinolate significantly lowered DHT and PAP levels respectively, when compared with the model group and the T/E2 ratio were similar to that of the solvent control group.The results indicated that maca and benzyl glucosinolate inhibit the development of BPH in mice and benzyl glucosinolate should be the main efficacy substance of maca aqueous extract.The inhibitive effect of Maca, all-E lycopene and their combination on the BPH in mice were explored and compared. A total of 150 mice were randomly divided into 15 groups(n = 10): Maca(60 mg/kg BW), benzyl glucosinolate(1.44 mg/kg BW), lycopene(15 mg/kg BW, 5 mg/kg BW, 2.5 mg/kg BW), Z-isomers(86% 3.5 mg/kg BW), Z-isomers(57% 5 mg/kg BW),Maca(30 mg/kg BW)+lycopene(7.5 mg/kg BW), Maca(30 mg/kg BW)+lycopene(2.5 mg/kg BW), Maca(30 mg/kg BW) +lycopene(1.25 mg/kg BW), Saline group; BPH model group, Finasteride(1 mg/kg BW), Solvent control group, Solvent BPH model group. Co-administration of maca(30 mg/kg BW) with lycopene(7.5 mg/kg BW) produced a significant(p<0.01) reduction in prostate weight, PI and levels of DHT and PAP in comparison to maca or lycopene alone. Its T/E2 ratio is more similar to that of solvent control group than the maca or lycopene alone. Treatment with Z-isomers(57% 5 mg/kg BW) produced more notable inhibition on the development of BPH than that of all-E isomer(97%).The results showed that Z-isomers is more effective than all-E-lycopene on inhibition of BPH in mice. Combined treatment with Maca and lycopene was more effective than the single treatments and maca(30 mg/kg BW) plus lycopene(7.5 mg/kg BW) exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity on BPH induced by TP in mice.