Cinnamomi Cortex (Cinnamomum Verum) Suppresses Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-Reductase

The study investigated the effects of Cinnamomi cortex (CC) water extract on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a controlled experiment. BPH was induced in subjects through testosterone propionate injections, followed by treatments with either a vehicle, testosterone propionate, testosterone propionate plus CC, or testosterone propionate plus finasteride. The results showed that CC treatment reduced prostate weight and prostatic index, normalized histological changes, and suppressed protein expressions related to prostate enlargement, such as prostate-specific antigen, estrogen receptor α, androgen receptor, and 5α-reductase. Immunohistochemical assays confirmed these findings, and in vitro experiments demonstrated that CC inhibited cell proliferation by suppressing 5α-reductase and androgen receptor. These findings suggested that CC could be a potential treatment for BPH.