Phytotherapy in Prostate Health: A Comprehensive Review of Key Plant-Based Antioxidants in the Treatment of Prostatitis and their Mechanisms of Action
Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health RisksMohammad Sadri 1 , MohamadReza Nazer 2 *
1 - Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2 - Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Keywords: Men, Prostate, Benign prostate hyperplasia, Traditional medicine, Herbal therapy, Iran,
Abstract :
Prostatitis, characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland, is a common condition among men, especially those in middle age, and is associated with painful symptoms and urinary complications. While bacterial infections are the primary cause, non-infectious factors can also contribute to the disease. Treatment of prostatitis typically involves the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and antibiotics, which may be associated with adverse effects. This study aims to identify medicinal plants used in traditional Iranian medicine for the treatment of prostatitis. In this review, keywords such as "medicinal plants," "prostate," "bladder infection," "traditional medicine," and "Iran" were used to search for relevant articles. The databases used for this search included Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, PubMed, and Scopus. Articles related to ethnobotany were selected for the literature review. Plants such as green tea, flaxseed, pumpkin, turmeric, pomegranate, tomato, licorice, nettle, apple, red clover, horsetail, carrot, beetroot, turnip, artichoke, cabbage, tribulus, red pepper, soybean, onion, garlic, strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry are among the most important medicinal plants effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The results of this review suggest that the use of medicinal plants is a low-risk and effective approach to the treatment of prostatitis.
1. Darvishi M., 2016. Antibiotic resistance pattern of uropathogenic methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from immunosuppressive patients with pyelonephritis. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology. 1, 10(4), 2663-7.
2. Nazer M.R., Abbaszadeh S., Anbari K., Shams M., 2019. A review of the most important medicinal herbs affecting giardiasis. Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology. 25, 8(2), 78-84.
3. Forootan M., Tabatabaeefar M., Mosaffa N., Ashkalak HR., Darvishi M., 2018. Investigating esophageal stent-placement outcomes in patients with inoperable non-cervical esophageal cancer. Journal of Cancer. 9(1), 213.
4. Mahmoudvand H., Badparva E., Khalaf AK., Niazi M., Khatami M., Nazer MR., 2020. Prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal helminthic infections in children from Lorestan province, Western Iran. Parasite epidemiology and control. 1, 9, 00136.
5. Mousavi S.E., Najafi M., Aslani A., Fazlollahi A., Yekta Z., Sadri M., Nejadghaderi S.A., 2024. A population-based study on incidence trends of kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the United States over 2000–2020. Scientific Reports. 17, 14(1), 11294.
6. Raoofi R., Nazer MR., Pournia Y., 2012. Seroepidemiology of hepatitis E virus in Western Iran. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 16, 302-3.
7. Darvishi M., Ziari K., Mohebi H., Alizadeh K., 2019. Association between iron deficiency anemia and Helicobacter pylori infection among children under six years in Iran, 3.
8. Nayeri R.K., Sadri M., Shahrokh H., Abolhasani M., Zolfi E., Kandevani N.Y., Kashi A.H., 2020. Small Cell Carcinoma of Bladder; Still A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge: Seven Years of Experience and Follow-up in A Referral Center. Urology Journal. 23, 17(4), 363-9.
9. Darvishi M., Nazer M.R., Shahali H., Nouri M., 2022. Association of thyroid dysfunction and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 28, 13, 947594.
10. Salarvand S., Nazer MR., Shokri S., Bazhvan S., Pournia Y., 2012. Brucellosis-induced avascular necrosis of the hip in a middle-aged person. Iranian Journal of Public Health. 41(12), 86.
11. Darvishi M., Nazer M.R., Alipour M.R., 2017. Investigating the end of patients suffering from diabetic foot hospitalized in Be'sat hospital of IRIAF from 2009 to 2014. Biomedical Research-India. 1, 28, 4630-3.
12. Darvishi M., Tosan F., Nakhaei P., Manjili DA., Kharkouei SA., Alizadeh A., Ilkhani S., Khalafi F., Zadeh FA., Shafagh SG. 2023. Recent progress in cancer immunotherapy: Overview of current status and challenges. Pathology-Research and Practice. 1, 241, 154241.
13. Kumar V.L., Majumder P.K., 1995. Prostate gland: structure, functions and regulation. International urology and nephrology. 27, 231-43.
14. Huggins C., 1945. The physiology of the prostate gland. Physiological Reviews. 1, 25(2), 281-95.
15. Domingue Sr. G.J., Hellstrom W.J., 1998. Prostatitis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 1, 11(4), 604-13.
16. Krieger J.N., Lee S.W., Jeon J., Cheah P.Y., Liong M.L., Riley D.E., 2008. Epidemiology of prostatitis. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 1, 31, 85-90.
17. Ramakrishnan K., Salinas R.C., 2010. Prostatitis: acute and chronic. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 1, 37(3), 547-63.
18. Sharp V.J., Takacs E.B., Powell C.R., 2010. Prostatitis: diagnosis and treatment. American family physician. 15, 82(4), 397-406.
19. Nickel J.C., 2003. Classification and diagnosis of prostatitis: a gold standard? Andrologia. 35(3), 160-7.
20. Benelli A., Hossain H., Pilatz A., Weidner W., 2017. Prostatitis and its management. European Urology Supplements. 1, 16(4), 132-7.
21. Strauss A.C., Dimitrakov J.D., 2010. New treatments for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Nature Reviews Urology. 7(3), 127-35.
22. Shahsavari S., 2024. A brief review of the medicinal effects of Scrophularia striata. Journal of Biochemicals and Phytomedicine. 3(1), 18-20. doi: 10.34172/jbp.2024.6.
23. Ranjbari A., Nazer M., 2024. A Review of Medicinal Plants Effective on Wound Healing in the Western Part of Iran Based on Ethnobotanical Documents. Plant Biotechnology Persa. 6 (1), 88-92.
24. Pirhadi M., Altememy D., 2024. Determination of methanol and ethanol levels in herbal distillates (mint, burdock, spring orange, chicory, thyme, chives, and horseradish) at supply level of Ahvaz using gas chromatography. Journal of Biochemicals and Phytomedicine. 3(1), 36-40. doi: 10.34172/jbp.2024.8.
25. Mussavi M., Asadollahi K., Janbaz F., Mansoori E., Abbasi N., 2014. The evaluation of red reflex sensitivity and specificity test among neonates in different conditions. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics, 24(6), 697.
26. Manouchehrı A., Shakıb P., Bıglaryan F., Nazer M., Darvıshı M., 2021. The most important medicinal plants affecting bee stings: A systematic review study. Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi. 21(1), 91-103.
27. Nazarbaghi S., Eftekhari Z., 2024. Herbal remedies for migraine headaches based on knowledge and ethnobotanical studies of the northern border of Iran. Plant Biotechnology Persa. 6(2), 8-14.
28. Baharvand Ahmadi B., Khajoei Nejad F., Papi S., Eftekhari Z., 2023. Phytotherapy for heart tonic: An ethnobotanical study in Dehloran City, Ilam Province, Western Iran. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences. 1-5. doi: 10.22124/cjes.2023.6192
29. Akbary P., 2024. Determination of antioxidant and phytochemical properties of premix extract of brown macroalgae Padinaaustralis, Sargassum licifolium and Stoechospermum marginatum from Chabahar coast, Southeastern Iran. Aquatic Animals Nutrition. 10(1), 27-41. doi: 10.22124/janb.2024.26283.1229
30. Gholamine B., Malviya J., Rudiansyah M., Abid MK., Alawadi A.H., Adeli O.A., Jalalvand M., Papi S., 2024. Herbal therapy in diabetes mellitus: A review. Advancements in Life Sciences. 6,11(1), 40-8.
31. Chen J.X., Hu L.S., 2006. Traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic prostatitis in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 1,12(8), 763-9.
32. Golchinpour H., Momeni A., Meshkatalsadat M.H., 2024. Assessment of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Catalytic Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Biosynthesized by Pistacia Vera Soft Waste Peel Extract. Journal of Chemical Health Risks. 3(3), 537.
33. Naderi N., Mohammadgholi A., Asghari Moghaddam N., 2024. Biosynthesis of Copper Oxide-Silver Nanoparticles from Ephedra Intermedia Extract and Study of Anticancer Effects in HepG2 Cell Line: Apoptosis-Related Genes Analysis and Nitric Oxide Level Investigations. International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine. 13 (3), 303-324.
34. Zargari A., 1992. Medicinal Plants. Tehran: Tehran University Press; 1.
35. Mozaffarian V., 1996. A Dictionary of Iranian Plant Names. Tehran: Farhang Moaser Publishers; 245.
36. Nadkarni KM., 1992 Indian Materia Medica. Bombay: Popular Prakashan; 200.
37. Aghili Alavi Shirazi M.H., 2008. Makhzan al-Advia (The Storehouse of Medicaments). Tehran: Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine; 2008.
38. Rashed-Mohassel M.H., 2005. Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) and Its History. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2005.
39. Avicenna., 1987. The Canon of Medicine. Beirut: Alaalami Library Press; 1987.
40. Ahvazi A.R., 20006. Kamil al-Sina'ah al-Tibbiya (The Complete Book of the Medical Art). Tehran: Institute of Medical History, Islamic Medicine and Complementary Medicine; 2006
41. Magri V., Boltri M., Cai T., Colombo R., Cuzzocrea S., De Visschere P., Giuberti R., Granatieri CM., Latino MA., Larganà G., Leli C., 2018. Multidisciplinary approach to prostatitis. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia. 90(4), 227-48.
42. Shoskes DA., 2002. Phytotherapy and other alternative forms of care for the patient with prostatitis. Current Urology Reports. 3(4), 330-4.
43. Shoskes D.A., Manickam K., 2003. Herbal and complementary medicine in chronic prostatitis. World Journal of Urology. 21, 109-13.
44. Herati A.S., Moldwin R.M., 2013. Alternative therapies in the management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. World journal of urology. 31, 761-6.
45. Yarnell E., Abascal K., 2005. Natural approaches to treating chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndromes. Alternative & Complementary Therapies. 1, 11(5), 246-51.
46. Dashdondov O., Wazir J., Sukhbaatar G., Mikrani R., Dorjsuren B., Aktar N., Zhou X., 2021. Herbal nutraceutical treatment of chronic prostatitis–chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a literature review. International Urology and Nephrology. 53(8), 1515-28.
47. Xiong Y., Qiu X., Shi W., Yu H., Zhang X., 2017. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of modified Bazhengsan in a rat model of chronic bacterial prostatitis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 23, 198, 73-80.
48. Lee S., Shin S., Kim H., Han S., Kim K., Kwon J., Kwak JH., Lee CK., Ha NJ., Yim D., Kim K., 2011. Anti-inflammatory function of arctiin by inhibiting COX-2 expression via NF-κB pathways. Journal of Inflammation. 8, 1-9.
49. Paulis G., 2018. Inflammatory mechanisms and oxidative stress in prostatitis: the possible role of antioxidant therapy. Research and reports in urology. 17, 75-87.
50. Thattet U.M., Dahanukar S.A., 1989. Immunotherapeutic modification of experimental infections by Indian medicinal plants. Phytotherapy Research. 3(2), 43-9.
51. Dalais F.S., Meliala A., Wattanapenpaiboon N., Frydenberg M., Suter DA., Thomson WK., Wahlqvist ML., 2004. Effects of a diet rich in phytoestrogens on prostate-specific antigen and sex hormones in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Urology. 1, 64(3), 510-5.
52. Magee P.J., Rowland IR., 2004. Phyto-oestrogens, their mechanism of action: current evidence for a role in breast and prostate cancer. British Journal of Nutrition. 91(4), 513-31.
53. Nazer M.R., Abbaszadeh S., Anbari K., Shams M., 2019. A review of the most important medicinal herbs affecting giardiasis. Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology. 25, 8(2), 78-84.
54. Dokhani N., Nazer M., Skokri S., Darvishi M., 2022. Determination and evaluating the antioxidant properties of ziziphus nummularia (burm. F.) wight & arn., crataegus pontica K. Koch and scrophularia striata boiss. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 1,53(3), 423-9.
55. Manouchehrı A., Shakıb P., Bıglaryan F., Nazer M., Darvıshı M., 2021. The most important medicinal plants affecting bee stings: A systematic review study. Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi. 21(1), 91-103.