Lauric acid and myristic acid prevent testosterone induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Numerous plants have proven to improve uncontrolled growth of the prostate gland and improve urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Major components of those plants were lauric acid and myristic acid. Our study investigated whether lauric acid or myristic acid prevent testorsterone induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. Rats were divided into negative control and testosterone induced prostatic hyperplasia rats (positive control, low dose lauric acid treated, high dose lauric acid treated, low dose of myristic acid treated, high dose of myristic acid treated, finasteride treated). Testosterone and drug treatment were carried out for 14 days. Body weights were recorded before and after treatment. On 15th day, rats were sacrificed, prostates were weighed and histopathological studies were carried out. Lauric acid/myristic acid treatment showed significant inhibition of prostate enlargement and protection of histoarchitecture of prostate when compared with positive control group. In conclusion, the study showed that lauric acid/myristic acid reduced the increase of both prostate weight and prostate weight:body weight ratio, markers of testosterone induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.