Articles
From farm to pharmacy: a case study of herbal beverages from the Biomedicinal Research Centre, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, for the management of prostate enlargement
Article number
1466_68
Pages
561 – 570
Language
English
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition among ageing men, affecting more than half of those aged 60 years and above, with prevalence rising in sub-Saharan Africa.
This study investigated the phytochemical composition, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological potential of two plants from southwestern Nigeria, Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey and Argemone mexicana L., with the aim of developing standardized herbal remedies for the management of prostate enlargement.
Fresh leaves of both plant species were collected from the herbal garden of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and authenticated at the Forest Herbarium, Ibadan.
The dried and powdered samples were extracted using a graded solvent extraction method.
Phytochemical screening, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were conducted to characterize the chemical constituents.
Furthermore, in vitro assays were performed to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and 5α-reductase inhibitory activities.
The extracts contained high concentrations of flavonoids (48.6 mg QE g‑1) and total phenolics (62.4 mg GAE g‑1). They exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 41.2 to 46.7 μg mL‑1, and demonstrated significant 5α-reductase inhibitory activity (59.8-63.5%). GC-MS analysis identified several bioactive compounds, including lupeol, stigmasterol, and quercetin, which suggest multiple pharmacological mechanisms associated with prostate health and the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Launaea taraxacifolia and Argemone mexicana as promising sources of bioactive compounds for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The findings support a farm-to-pharmacy approach that integrates ethnobotanical knowledge with modern analytical techniques to develop safe, affordable, standardized, and evidence-based phytomedicines for prostate health.
This study investigated the phytochemical composition, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological potential of two plants from southwestern Nigeria, Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey and Argemone mexicana L., with the aim of developing standardized herbal remedies for the management of prostate enlargement.
Fresh leaves of both plant species were collected from the herbal garden of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and authenticated at the Forest Herbarium, Ibadan.
The dried and powdered samples were extracted using a graded solvent extraction method.
Phytochemical screening, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were conducted to characterize the chemical constituents.
Furthermore, in vitro assays were performed to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and 5α-reductase inhibitory activities.
The extracts contained high concentrations of flavonoids (48.6 mg QE g‑1) and total phenolics (62.4 mg GAE g‑1). They exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 41.2 to 46.7 μg mL‑1, and demonstrated significant 5α-reductase inhibitory activity (59.8-63.5%). GC-MS analysis identified several bioactive compounds, including lupeol, stigmasterol, and quercetin, which suggest multiple pharmacological mechanisms associated with prostate health and the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Launaea taraxacifolia and Argemone mexicana as promising sources of bioactive compounds for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The findings support a farm-to-pharmacy approach that integrates ethnobotanical knowledge with modern analytical techniques to develop safe, affordable, standardized, and evidence-based phytomedicines for prostate health.
Publication
Authors
I.O. Lawal, O.A. Adebisi, L.A. Balogun, O.A. Farinloye, A.O. Bashir, A.O. Aremu
Keywords
biodiversity, benign prostatic hyperplasia, bioactive compound, phytomedicine
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