EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF CUCURBITAFICIFOLIA (SQUASH) ON KIDNEY PARAMETERS OF DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE ESTRADIOL VALERATE INDUCED BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH) IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is frequently associated with alterations in renal function due to obstructive uropathy and hormonal imbalance. This study evaluated the effect of methanol extract of Cucurbita ficifolia (squash) on renal parameters in dihydrotestosterone–estradiol valerate-induced BPH in male Wistar rats. Induction of BPH significantly elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate weight, and kidney function biomarkers (urea and creatinine), confirming disease establishment.Twenty five rats were divided into normal control, drug control, disease control, and treatment groups receiving 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of C. ficifolia extract. The disease control group showed a marked increase in creatinine (0.81 ± 0.02 mg/dl) compared to the normal control (0.73 ± 0.03 mg/dl) and drug control (0.69 ± 0.04 mg/dl). Treatment with C. ficifolia extract improved renal function, as evidenced by reductions in creatinine (0.76 ± 0.03 mg/dl at 200 mg/kg; 0.79 ± 0.03 mg/dl at 400 mg/kg) toward normal values. Urea (17.07–19.57 mg/dl) remained relatively stable across groups. These findings suggest that C. ficifolia exerts nephroprotective effects in BPH, likely mediated by its phytochemical constituents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Further studies with larger sample sizes, longer durations, and histopathological evaluations are recommended to confirm its therapeutic potential in BPH-related renal dysfunction.