INHIBITION OF BFGF AND EGF-INDUCED PROLIFERATION OF 3T3 FIBROBLASTS BY EXTRACT OF PYGEUM-AFRICANUM (TADENAN(R))

An extract of Pygeum africanum bark (Tadenan(R)) is prescribed for old er men suffering from micturitional difficulties due to benign prostat ic hyperplasia (BPH). Its mechanism of action is not completely unders tood. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) probably plays a role in t he development of BPH. We have examined the effects of P africanum ext ract on basal cell proliferation and on the proliferation induced by b FGF, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (I GF-1). The proliferation of 3T3 fibroblasts was measured by the incorp oration of tritiated methylthymidine and staining nuclei with crystal violet. P africanum extract slightly inhibited the basal growth of fib roblasts. However, it had a much larger inhibitory effect on cell prol iferation induced by bFGF with 0.5 mu g/ml, and the effect was signifi cant at 1 mu g/ml. Pygeum africanum extract also inhibited cell prolif eration induced with EGF, but to a lesser extent. This suggests that t he therapeutic effect of P africanum extract may be partly due to inhi bition of cell growth induced by certain growth factors.