Nutraceutical Effects of Gastrodiae elata and Coenzyme Q10 on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Pathways in an In Vitro Gut-Prostate Axis Model.

Background/

Objectives

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a multifactorial condition associated with androgen imbalance, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, leading to growing interest in food-derived bioactive compounds with multitarget activity. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects of a nutraceutical combination of Gastrodiae elata Blume extract and coenzyme Q10 (Q10), focusing on mechanisms relevant to prostate physiological balance using food-relevant in vitro models.

Methods

An intestinal epithelial barrier model (Caco-2) was employed to assess intestinal tolerance and permeability of the tested compounds. Subsequently, a prostate epithelial-stromal co-culture exposed to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was used to reproduce BPH-like cellular conditions. Oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, androgen-related pathways, and markers of proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated following simulated intestinal passage.

Results

The combined formulation showed no cytotoxic effects and demonstrated efficient intestinal permeability. After intestinal passage, the combination significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the prostate co-culture, decreasing reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory mediators, including NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β. In parallel, the formulation modulated androgen-related pathways by reducing 5-α-reductase activity and DHT levels while supporting testosterone homeostasis. Across some of the evaluated endpoints, the combined formulation tended to show more pronounced protective effects compared with the individual components.

Conclusions

These results suggest that a combination of Gastrodiae elata and coenzyme Q10 may have a positive effect on prostate health. In the nutraceutical field, this food-based formulation could help support prostate health, probably through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormonal control mechanisms. Further studies using advanced experimental models are warranted.