Cernitin pollen-extract(Cernilton)のラット非細菌性前立腺炎モデルにおける炎症性サイトカインに対する作用

Abstract

ラットでの性ホルモン誘発非細菌性前立腺炎モデルを用い, 既報の抗炎症作用を病理組織学的に確認すると共に, その作用機序究明の一環として, cernitin pollen-extract(CN)の炎症性サイトカイン(IL-1β, IL-6及びTNF-α)に対する作用を検討した.その結果, 対照群で認められた前立腺組織中のIL-6及びTNF-αの増加を用量依存的に抑制した.この抑制作用がCNの抗炎症作用に重要な因子であると推測された

Cernitin pollen-extract (Cernilton, CN) is a preparation made from eight kinds of pollen and has been used for various prostatic diseases in Japan and Europe. We reported previously that CN possessed a recovery action on the sex-hormone-induced nonbacterial prostatitis in rats. To clarify the possible mechanism of action of CN, we investigated the effects of CN on inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) in the same model. Aged Wistar rats were castrated and injected 17 beta-estradiol (0.25 mg/kg/day, s.c.) for 30 days. CN (630 and 1, 260 mg/kg, p.o.) or testosterone (2.5 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered for the last 14 days of the treatment of 17 beta-estradiol. In control rats, prostatic IL-6 and TNF-alpha contents were increased approximately 2-3 fold, and acinar glandular inflammation and stromal proliferation were found histopathologically, as compared with those of intact rats. On the other hand, CN decreased the increased contents of cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. The histopathological changes mentioned above were restored in rats treated with 1, 260 mg/kg. Testosterone also ameliorated them significantly. These results indicate that CN has an anti-inflammatory action, and that the inhibitory effect of CN on the prostatic inflammatory cytokine is an important factor in its action.