Experts believe that cocoyam could be a safe food for the prevention and treatment of prostate enlargement, especially in light of the increasing prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) worldwide and the promising potential of nutraceuticals. as complementary therapies to reduce their burden.
According to a recent study, because it has fewer adverse effects and can reduce prostate weight, total protein and prostate-specific antigen levels, cocoyam, a frequently consumed food, may offer better options for management and/or prevention of an enlarged prostate.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common term used to describe an enlarged prostate. It is a medical condition that is more common as people age, not cancer. A small gland called the prostate helps in the production of semen. Located directly below the bladder, it often increases as a man ages.
It can cause symptoms such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It may also cause a frequent or urgent need to urinate, urinating more frequently at night, problems starting to urinate, dribbling after urinating, a weak urine stream, or a stream that stops and starts.
Many treatments can help with an enlarged prostate. These consist of medications, surgeries and other treatments. However, factors such as prostate size, symptoms, and other comorbid conditions will determine the best course of action.
These treatment options are associated with serious side effects, including, but not limited to, organ toxicity and sexual dysfunction.
Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) is an important tropical root crop grown specifically for its starchy corms or underground stems. It is considered one of the most important staple crops in the Pacific Islands, Asia and Africa.
Various ethnic groups in Nigeria have different names for cocoyam, attesting to its nationwide distribution and use. It is known as ede/akaso/uli in Ibo, guaza in Hausa and koko pupa in Yoruba.
It has been used for the treatment of various ailments, such as asthma, arthritis, diarrhea, internal bleeding, neurological disorders, and skin disorders. A decoction of the leaves is drunk to promote menstruation and relieve stomach problems.
In New Guinea, the leaves are heated over a fire and applied as a boiling poultice and the sap from the leaf stem is used to treat conjunctivitis.
Researchers from Ebonyi State University, in collaboration with their Ugandan contemporaries, have analyzed the safety and how the components of cocoyam caused a reduction in prostate weight, total protein and prostate-specific antigen level. They said cocoyam's protection against prostate enlargement is comparable to finasteride.
The report appeared in the June issue of the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.
Finasteride is the conventional medication used to treat men with an enlarged prostate. It may help relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as difficulty urinating or urinating urgently or more frequently. For example, it is known to reduce the size of the prostate by approximately 25 percent.
In this study, 45 male albino rats were randomly assigned to nine groups of five rats each. Group 1 (normal control) received olive oil and normal saline. Group 2 (non-BPH treated group) received 3 mg/kg testosterone propionate (TP) and normal saline, and group 3 (positive control) received 3 mg/kg TP and 5 mg/kg finasteride.
Treatment groups four, five, six, seven, eight and nine received 3 mg/kg TP and a medium dose (200 mg/kg) LD50 of C. esculenta crude tuber extract in ethanol (ECTECE) or hexane. , dichloromethane, butanone, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of ECTECE, respectively, for 28 days.
Subsequently, vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, prostate and testicles were collected, as well as blood samples from the animals for testing.
Overall, cocoyam's protection against prostate enlargement is comparable to that of finasteride. There was a significant increase in the mean relative weight of the prostate (approximately five-fold), as well as a reduction in the relative weight of the testes (approximately 1.4-fold less). There were no significant differences in the average relative weights of most vital organs: liver, kidneys, and heart.
Furthermore, there were no significant differences in red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelet counts, and other blood parameters. Cocoyam fractions induced changes in total serum (the liquid portion of blood) that were comparable to those of standard treatment (finasteride).
According to the researchers, “the biochemical and hematological parameter data from our study show no evidence of toxicity. However, we observed a decrease in body weight in the treatment group. “This suggests a possible cellular response to stop prostate enlargement by degrading tissue proteins.”
Furthermore, they suggested that the relatively lower prostate weights in some of the animal groups indicate that these treatments may reduce prostate enlargement at the lower doses used in this research.
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