Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ageratum Conyzoides Extract in Testosterone Propionate-Stimulated Human Prostatic Carcinoma Cell Line

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Ageratum conyzoides (A. conyzoides), a flowering plant that inhabits tropical and subtropical regions, has been traditionally utilized as a medicinal plant in Asia, Africa, and South America. The pharmaceutical efficacies of A. conyzoides as a phytotherapy for male reproductive diseases have been reported. However, the pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of action of the standardized ethanol extract of A. conyzoides (AGEprost®) on the human prostatic carcinoma cell line (LNCaP) have not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of AGEprost® in testosterone propionate-stimulated LNCaP cells. AGEprost® treatment significantly decreased the levels of dihydrotestosterone, 5α-reductase 1 and 2, and prostate specific antigen. Moreover, AGEprost® significantly downregulated the protein expression of androgen receptor-associated proliferation markers. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and proteins also decreased with AGEprost® administration. Apoptotic markers were upregulated in AGEprost®-treated groups. These results collectively demonstrate that AGEprost® has the potential to alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia as a therapeutic agent.