Anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of Crateva nurvala bark against testosterone and MNU-induced prostate cancer in rats

AIM: In the present study the anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of Crateva nurvala bark was evaluated against testosterone and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced prostate cancer in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Prostate cancer was induced in rats by the injection of testosterone for 3 d followed by injection of the chemical carcinogen MNU for 1 week. The prostate cancer-induced rats were treated with the ethanolic extract of C. nurvala bark, and testosterone injection was also continued through the experimental period of 4 months. Biochemical estimations including prostatic acid phosphatase, lipid peroxidation, enzymic antioxidants and non-enzymic antioxidants activity were done in the prostate and seminal vesicle tissue homogenate. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the level of acid phosphatase and lipid peroxidation in prostate cancer-induced rats, and after treatment with C. nurvala extract a significant decrease in the level of acid phosphatase lipid peroxidation were observed. The enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were decreased in the prostate cancer induced group and after treatment they were restored to near normal values. Histopathological examination showed significant changes such as hyperplastic prostatic acini and malignant proliferation of ductal epithelial cells in the prostate and seminal vesicle of carcinogen induced rats. After treatment with C. nurvala extract normal and flow-dilated ducts and acini with regular epithelial lining were observed in the prostate and partially hyperplastic and partially flattered epithelium were observed in seminal vesicles. CONCLUSION: The ethanolic extract of C. nurvala has significant anticancer activity evaluated by in an in vivo model.