A Herbal Formula, Comprising Panax Ginseng and Bee-Pollen, Inhibits Development of Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Wistar Rats

In a 2015 study, researchers tested the effects of a herbal formula, KH053, containing Panax ginseng and bee-pollen, on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in 40 male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into four groups: control, BPH-induced, treated with finasteride (a standard BPH treatment), and treated with KH053. The BPH was induced by testosterone injections, and the KH053 group received the herbal formula orally. After 4 weeks, the KH053 group showed significantly reduced prostate weight and serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, as well as decreased hyperplasia and growth factor expressions (TGF-B1 and VEGF) in the prostate tissue, compared to the BPH group. The study concluded that KH053 has the potential to inhibit BPH development and could be considered as a functional food for BPH treatment, with further clinical trials needed to assess its safety and efficacy in humans.