Investigation on the Effect of Parkia biglobosa Seed Extract on the Prostate of Male Wistar Rats

The research was directed at assessing the prostatic effect of the extract of Parkia biglobosa on the male Wistar rats. Twenty one (21) experimental rats weighing about 90-120 g and divided into three groups consisting of seven animals were used. The control group was fed with normal rat feed and water, while the experimental groups the low and high groups received (300 mg/kgBw) and (500 mg/kgBw) of the extract daily by oral gavage method for thirty one (31) days. All animals were sacrificed a day after the end of the extract administration by cervical dislocation. The prostate was removed, weighed and fix in 10% buffer formalin. Result showed that following administration of extract of Parkia biglobosa, a significant increase was observed in the test group. Histological observation show that administration of Parkia biglobosa at high dose and long duration could result to cystic changes in the epithelium. Study reveals that these focal areas of cystic changes are prognosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other histological observation shows that administration of aqueous extract of Parkia biglobosa at high dose reveal congestion of blood vessels and functional hyperplasia characterized by increased in-folding of the glandular epithelium resulting in the decrease in glandular diameter. Histochemical observation reveals a weak PAS-positive epithelial nuclei and a weak to negative PAS- positive cytoplasm, studies reveal that this could cause atrophic tubules and reactive hyperplasia.