Protective and therapeutic effect of Vitex agnus-castus against prostate cancer in rats -

This work was prompted to investigate effect of the vitex berries crude extract on prostate cancer relevant to the cancer growth rate limiting enzymes (5-α reductase and Na+ K+ATPase, tumor biomarker; prostate specific antigen (PSA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), sexual hormones; testosterone and luteinizing hormone, anti-inflammatory markers and antioxidant markers. Vitex berries crude extract was prepared and tested against human prostate cancer cell line (PC3) and then incorporated into in-vivo model for Prostate cancer induced chemically in rats using chronic administration of testosterone (3mg/ kg/ 90 days) in a sub-cutaneous route and intraperitoneal injection of carcinogenic material, dimethyl benzanthracene (DMBA). Vitex extract inhibited cell growth of PC3 which were completely killed at 100μg/ml. In in-vivo study, Vitex extract showed potent anti-prostate cancer evident as significant reduction in cancer growth rate limiting enzymes; 5 alpha reductase, Na+K+ATPase and prostate specific antigen with suppression in carcinoembryonic antigen production, which amplified by prostate cancer induction. A selective anti-inflammatory effect was recorded with vitex administration represented as significant inhibition in cyclooxygenase-2 and in insignificant effect on cyclooxygenase-1. It showed ameliorative effects on sexual hormones showed in amendment in testosterone and luteinizing hormone affected by prostate cancer induction. Investigations of this work prove vitex extract potential role as anti-prostate cancer evaluated by in-vitro and in-vivo protocols. The anti-prostate cancer properties of vitex extract may be due to its effect against cancer risk factors; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characters, ameliorative effect on sex hormones and suppression in cancer growth rate limiting enzymes.