Korean J Urol.  2009 Jun;50(6):602-608. 10.4111/kju.2009.50.6.602.

Preventive Effect on Inflammation and Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Microbial Effects of Garlic Extract in a Rat Model of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis

• Kim SI
• Yim SH
• Sohn DW
• Lee SJ
• Ha US
• Han CH
• Cho YH

• KMID: 1989794
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2009.50.6.602

Abstract

PURPOSE: Garlic has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated its actions and preventive effects on chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) using a rat model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bacterial suspension was inserted into the prostatic urethra of 75 rats. Then 15 were grouped as garlic group, and 60 as control group. Garlic and saline were given to each group for 4 weeks, respectively. After partial resection of the prostate, microbiological culture and histological examination were done. The incidence of CBP was compared between two groups. To evaluate the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effect of garlic, the 41 rats proved as CBP models among the control group were divided into 4 groups randomly: I, control; II, garlic; III, ciprofloxacin; IV, garlic plus ciprofloxacin. After 3 weeks of treatment, microbiological cultures of urine, prostate and histological examination of prostate were done.
RESULTS
In study of the preventive effects, 5 rats in garlic treatment group and 41 rats in control group were shown to be CBP models. In anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory evaluation, positive urine culture rate and prostate tissue show no significant difference among four groups, but bacterial growth in urine and prostate tissue were lower in groups II, III, and IV than group I. Bacterial growth was the slowest in prostate tissue of group IV. Histologic findings were more improved in groups II, III and IV than group I, with Group IV being the most improved.
CONCLUSIONS
These results show that garlic has preventive and therapeutic effects on CBP. Combination treatment with antibiotics may be considered in the future.

Keyword

Garlic; Prostatitis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ciprofloxacin
Garlic
Incidence
Inflammation
Prostate
Prostatitis
Rats
Urethra
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ciprofloxacin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Schematic design of the experiment. PBS: phosphate buffered saline, CBP: chronic bacterial prostatitis.

• 

  Fig. 2 Prostate section of chronic bacterial prostatitis rat, obtained after 3 weeks of treatment. Control group shows severe infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, atrophy of acini, and fibrosis of interstitial cells (A). Garlic or ciprofloxacin group shows mild to moderate infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, mildly shrunken acini, and moderate interstitial fibrosis (B, C). Garlic plus ciprofloxacin group shows more decreased infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, nearly normal appearance of acini, and mild interstitial fibrosis (D) (H&E, ×40).

• 

  Fig. 3 Severity scores of chronic inflammatory cell infiltrations, acinar changes and interstitial fibrosis in each group. a: p<0.05, compared with group I, b: p<0.05, compared with group II&III, c: p<0.05, compared between group II&III, Inflammatory cell infiltration, p-value=0.000, between group I&II=0.034, group I&III=0.000, group I&IV=0.000, group II&III=0.288, group II&IV=0.000, group III&IV=0.036, acinar change, p-value=0.000, between group I&II=0.004, group I&III=0.000, group I&IV=0.000, group II&III=0.621, group II&IV=0.000, group III&IV=0.012, interstitial fibrosis, p-value=0.000, between group I&II=0.848, group I&III=0.002, group I&IV=0.000, group II&III=0.022, group II&IV=0.000, group III&IV=0.015.

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