Prostate‐specific targeting of the aqueous root extract of C roton membranaceus in experimental animals

Summary C roton membranaceus Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is used for benign prostate hyperplasia ( BPH ) treatment. The study aimed at investigating organs that the aqueous root extracts of C . membranaceus ( CMARE ) target, which is absent in literature. Twenty‐four male Sprague‐Dawley rats (100–140 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1, the control group received distilled water. Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 30, 150 and 300 mg kg −1 b.wt CMARE respectively (oral gavage). Rats fed 90 days the standard chow diet ad libitum . Upon sacrifice, major organs were histologically examined and serum prostate‐specific antigen ( PSA ) biochemically determined. Only the prostate was abnormal. Histologically, H&E staining revealed thickness and infoldings of the epithelial cells shrinking with increasing dose. The 30 mg kg −1 group showed low columnar or flattened epithelium cells, whereas the columnar epithelium infoldings of the 150 mg kg −1 b.wt and 300 mg kg −1 b.wt groups were virtually nonexistent. The acini of the control, 30 mg kg −1 b.wt group and the 150 mg kg −1 b.wt groups showed clear pinkish secretion. However, secretion of the high‐dose group appeared light pink in colour and the stroma cells appeared much darker than all the treated and control group. C . membranaceus targets the prostate with significant PSA reduction ( P  < 0.01).