Rhodobacter sphaeroides Extract Lycogen‚Ñ?Attenuates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in Rats
Authors: Chun-Ming Cheng
Kuo-Hsun Chiu
Ya-Yun Wang
Wen-Sheng Liu
Ya-Huey Chen
Li-Lian Liu
Tsung-Ming Chen
Chiang-Ting Wang
Zhi-Hong Wen
Xue-Zhu Liu
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018)
Discipline: CHEMISTRY
Keywords: Lycogen‚Ñ? Rhodobacter sphaeroides; benign prostate hyperplasia; probiotics.
Affiliations: Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, 70 Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan. ., Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung 80284, Taiwan. ., Department of Chemistry, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan. ., Graduate Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan. ., Asia-Pacific Biotech Developing, Inc., Kaohsiung 80681, Taiwan. ., Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No.142, Haijhuan Rd., Nazih Dist., Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan. ., Department of Animal Pharmacology, Development Centre for Biotechnology, New Taipei City 22180, Taiwan. ., Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan. ., Marine Microorganism Ecological and Application Lab, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316004, China. ., Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, China Medical University, Cancer Center Building 8F, No. 6, Hsueh-shih Road, Taichung 40477, Taiwan. ., Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40477, Taiwan. ., Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery Ph.D. Program, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40477, Taiwan. .

Abstract:  Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common urological problems in mid-aged to elderly men. Risk factors of BPH include family history, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high oxidative stress. The main medication classes for BPH management are alpha blockers and 5Œ±-reductase inhibitors. However, these conventional medicines cause adverse effects. Lycogen‚Ñ? extracted from Rhodobacter sphaeroides WL-APD911, is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. In this study, the effect of Lycogen‚Ñ?was evaluated in rats with testosterone-induced benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Testosterone injections and Lycogen‚Ñ?administration were carried out for 28 days, and body weights were recorded twice per week. The testosterone injection successfully induced a prostate enlargement. BPH-induced rats treated with different doses of Lycogen‚Ñ?exhibited a significantly decreased prostate index (PI). Moreover, the Lycogen‚Ñ?administration recovered the histological abnormalities observed in the prostate of BPH rats. In conclusion, these findings support a dose-dependent preventing effect of Lycogen‚Ñ?on testosterone-induced BPH in rats and suggest that Lycogen‚Ñ?may be favorable to the prevention and management of benign prostate hyperplasia. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 In the line 2 of the Introduction (in 2nd page of this paper), the following statement  The composition of Lycogenu2122 includes u03b6-carotene, neurosporene, spheroidenone and methoxyneurosporene.  was not supported by scientific evidence or related literatures. In lines 20-21 of page 8, the statement  The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative abilities that have been attributed to Lycogenu2122 may partially result from the effects of lycopene; is not consistent with the statement above, in which lycopene is not the constituent of Lycogenu2122 . , 
 Thank you for the comments. 1. Lycogenu2122 is a mixture composed of many compounds and have been patented. 2. Sorry to make the misunderstanding. The original paragraph was written as The anti-oxidative and anti-inufb02ammatory properties of Lycogenu2122 have been demonstrated when mounting our prior investigations [1,2,7,31,32,49,53]...........Since Lycogenu2122 and lycopene share the same biosynthesis pathway, we believed that Lycogenu2122 shared similar cellular mechanisms with lycopene [53,56]. The anti-inufb02ammatory and anti-oxidative abilities that have been attributed to Lycogenu2122 may partially result from the effects of lycopene. Considering lycopene is the well known compound of these analogs, therefore, we just used it to describe the anti-oxidative and anti-inufb02ammatory properties of Lycogenu2122. Thank you , 
 The response from Dr. Chen, one of the authors, might be unable to clarify the questions raised above. 1. If Lycogenu2122 is indeed a mixture composed of many compounds and have been patented, please tell how many compounds compose Lycogenu2122. Also, authors need to list the names of these compounds and provide the NMR spectroscopic data or other solid evidences, with the related references. 2. The response that  lycopene share the same biosynthesis pathway, we believed that Lycogenu2122 shared similar cellular mechanisms with lycopene [53,56]. The anti-inufb02ammatory and anti-oxidative abilities that have been attributed to Lycogenu2122 may partially result from the effects of lycopene , however, this statement is not based on the knowledge commonly accepted by scientific community. Thousands of steroid natural products share the same biosynthesis pathway, but they are not necessary to possess the same biological activity. This response is still not able to explain the content of this paper mentioning that the composition of Lycogenu2122 includes u03b6-carotene, neurosporene, spheroidenone and methoxyneurosporene, without providing the adequate evidence. , 
 In order to completely remove the organic solvent acetone, the supernatent was incubated in an oven at 55 u00b0C to obtain the extract Lycogenu2122 of R. sphaeroides WL-APD911, as described in section 4.1., page 8, is quite dangerous, as acetone is highly volitile and inflammable with a low boiling point 56 u00b0C. . ,