Ganoderma Lucidum as an Inhibitor of Testosterone-Induced Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats

The document reports a study on the effects of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) extracts on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. The study found that GL extracts, particularly the petroleum ether extract (GLP) and the ethanolic extract (GLE), were effective in reducing prostate weight and the prostate/body weight ratio, improving urine output, and decreasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. GLP was slightly more effective than GLE, with a 71.57% recovery in the prostate/body weight ratio at a dose of 50 mg/kg, compared to a 68.94% recovery for GLE at the same dose. Finasteride, a known treatment for hyperplasia, showed an 80.10% recovery. The study concluded that GL extracts have potential as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia due to their 5α-reductase inhibitory activity and the observed improvements in prostatic histoarchitecture. The number of rats used in the study was not specified in the provided excerpt.