Dihydroartemisinin Attenuates Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats by Inhibiting Prostatic Epithelial Cell Proliferation

The study investigated the effects of Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of the antimalarial drug Artemisinin, on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats. The rats were divided into four groups and treated with testosterone propionate (TP) for 28 days to induce BPH. The results showed that DHA significantly reduced the TP-induced increase in prostate weight and index, changes in prostate tissue histology, and collagen deposition. DHA also decreased serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and prostatic 5α-reductase 2 (5AR-2) expression, and inhibited the proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells both in vivo and in vitro. The study concluded that DHA may be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with BPH.