Korean J Urol.  2006 Dec;47(12):1348-1353. 10.4111/kju.2006.47.12.1348.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Lycopene on Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis Rat Model

• Yang CH
• Sohn DW
• Cho YH

• KMID: 2139782
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2006.47.12.1348

Abstract

PURPOSE
Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is the most common urological disease in adult males, with antibiotic therapy being the gold standard for its treatment. However, long-term therapy results in many side effects as well as bacterial resistance. For these reasons, there is a need for a new treatment modality to replace traditional antibiotic therapy. Lycopene, an extract of tomatoes, has antioxidant effects against various bacteria and synergistic effects with antibiotics. We evaluate the synergistic effects of lycopene on the treatment of CBP in an animal model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty five rats demonstrating CBP were randomly divided into 4 groups; the control, lycopene, ciprofloxacin and lycopene with ciprofloxacin groups. All drug treatments were conducted over a period of 2 weeks. After treatment, the results were analyzed, with the microbiological cultures and histological findings of the prostate and urine samples compared with the control group and between each group.
RESULTS
The uses of ciprofloxacin, and lycopene with ciprofloxacin showed statistically significant decreases in bacterial growth and improvements in prostatic inflammation compared with the control group (p<0.05). The lycopene with ciprofloxacin group showed a statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvements in prostatic inflammation compared with the ciprofloxacin group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that lycopene may be an effective material in the treatment of CBP. Especially, the combination treatment of lycopene and ciprofloxacin has synergistic effects. Therefore, it is suggest that the combination of lycopene and ciprofloxacin may be effective in the treatment of CBP, and with a higher success rate.

Keyword

Lycopene; Prostatitis; Antibiotics

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antioxidants
Bacteria
Ciprofloxacin
Humans
Inflammation
Lycopersicon esculentum
Male
Models, Animal*
Prostate
Prostatitis*
Rats*
Urologic Diseases
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antioxidants
Ciprofloxacin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Prostate section of a chronic bacterial prostatitis rat, obtained 2 weeks after each treatment (H&E, Bar=100µm). (A) The acinar structures are severely atrophied and obliterated. Marked chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial fibrosis are seen (Group I). (B) The acinar structures are moderately atrophied and obliterated. Moderate chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial fibrosis are seen (Group II). (C) The acinar structures are mildly shrunken, with mild lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis in the interstitial space (Group III). (D) The acinar structures have a nearly normal appearance, with mild lymphocytic infiltration and focal fibrosis in the interstitial space (Group IV).

• 

  Fig. 2 Severity scores of chronic inflammatory cell infiltrations, acinar changes and interstitial fibrosis in each group. The values, expressed the means±SD, are compared with that of the control group. *: p<0.05, compared with the control group, †: p<0.05, compared with the ciprofloxacin group, SD: standard deviation.

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