ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of the methanol extract of Macrothelypteris oligophlebia on chronic non-bacterial prosta-titis ( CNP) in rats to confirm the active fractions. Methods:The powdered rhizomes of M. oligophlebia were soaked in methanol. The methanol extract was suspended in water and then extracted successively with chloroform and ethyl acetate to obtain chloroform fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and water fraction. Carrageenan-induced CNP in rats was established. The rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated control group, model group, positive control group, methanol extract group, ethyl acetate fraction group, chloroform fraction group and water fraction group. The anti-prostatitis effect was evaluated by the prostate index, and the pathological examination of prostate was performed using HE staining. The levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxyge-nase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Results:The ethyl acetate fraction group and metha-nol extract group with high flavonoid content could significantly decrease prostate index (P<0. 01) and the levels of IL-10, TNF-α, COX-2 and PGE2(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01), and improve the prostate morphology when compared with the model group, especially with the ethyl acetate fraction group. Conclusion:The rhizomes of M. oligophlebia show promising therapeutic effect on CNP, and the ethyl acetate fraction is the active fraction.
