The effect of Korean red ginseng on chronic non-bacterial prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis typically shows aging men. Urinary symptoms including frequency of passing urine and pain on passing urine are observed in patients with chronic prostatitis. In recent study, several studies showed that Korean red ginseng (KRG) has various effects of prevention and treatment to various diseases. We investigated whether KRG may repress the development of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP) in male Wistar rats.

7 weeks male Wistar rats were and divided into 5 groups (normal group, CNP group, positive group, KRG group (0.25 g/kg), and KRG (0.50 g/kg). In order to induce CNP in rats, rats were castrated and Beta-estradiol was injected subcutaneously everyday (s.c, 0.25 mg/kg). After 4 weeks, all rats were sacrificed and their prostate and serum were analyzed.

Compared to the testosterone group as positive group, the KRG group showed similarly protective effect on CNP in histopathologic morphology of prostate and inflammation cytokines in serum. Results of immunohistochemistry showed decreased expressions of VEGFA, IL6, IL-1ß, and TNF-alpha were also decreased in KRG group (0.25 g/kg) and KRG (0.50 g/kg).

These results suggested that KRG inhibited the development of CNP and might a useful herbal treatment or functional food for CNP.