Jiedu Huoxue decoction improves inflammation in rat type III prostatitis: The importance of the NF-κB signalling pathway.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of Jiedu Huoxue decoction (JDHXD) in type III prostatitis based on the NF-κB signalling pathway. Twenty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into blank control, model, positive (Prostate Plus), low-dose JDHXD, medium-dose JDHXD and high-dose JDHXD groups. Type III prostatitis rat model was established and confirmed with HE staining. NF-кB P50 and NF-κB P65 expression was detected with immunohistochemistry. NF-κB mRNA expression was detected with qRT-PCR. Protein expression of NF-κB and its inhibitor Iκ-Bα was detected with Western blot. Compared to the model group, a decrease in glandular hyperplasia and inflammation, and in NF-кB P50 and NF-κB P65 expression in the medium- and high-dose JDHXD groups was observed. NF-κB mRNA expression was significantly increased in the model group compared to control (p < 0.05), and significantly decreased in the JDHXD treatment groups compared to model group (p < 0.05). Protein expression of NF-κB was significantly increased in the model and low-dose JDHXD groups compared to control(p < 0.05), and significantly decreased in the medium- and high-dose JDHXD groups compared to model group (p < 0.05). Protein expression of Iκ-Bα was vice versa. JDHXD could be a potential treatment for type III prostatitis via its regulation of NF-κB and Iκ-Bα expression.