Overview of Pygeum
Scientific Name: Prunus africana
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Pygeum is sometimes combined with saw palmetto to treat benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Strong:
insufficient informationGood:
- Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)/Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), pygeum alone and a combination of pygeum / lycopene / Cucurbita pepo / Epilobium parviflorum and pygeum / stinging nettle were effective [1-6]
Promising:
insufficient informationConflicting (Unclear):
insufficient informationLimited Evidence:
insufficient informationNo Evidence:
insufficient informationNo Clinical Research:
All other conditions.- Side effects have not been studied.
- Use caution or contact a licensed healthcare practitioner, since there is not enough research on the use of supplements containing pygeum.
There is not enough research on the use of supplements containing pygeum during pregnancy and breast-feeding, so consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before use or avoid use.
Major:
insufficient informationModerate:
insufficient informationPotential:
- 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors
Pygeum is not a "drug", the best doses have not been thoroughly established. Make sure to follow the specific product instructions and take as directed on the label, or consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before use.
1. Breza J, Dzurny O, Borowka A, Hanus T, Petrik R, Blane G, Chadha-Boreham H. Efficacy and acceptability of tadenan (Pygeum africanum extract) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a multicentre trial in central Europe. Curr Med Res Opin. 1998;14(3):127-39. 2. Chatelain C, Autet W, Brackman F. Comparison of once and twice daily dosage forms of Pygeum africanum extract in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized, double-blind study, with long-term open label extension. Urology. 1999 Sep;54(3):473-8. 3. Coulson S, Rao A, Beck SL, Steels E, Gramotnev H, Vitetta L. A phase II randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ProstateEZE Max: a herbal medicine preparation for the management of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Complement Ther Med. 2013 Jun;21(3):172-9. 4. Hutchison A, Farmer R, Verhamme K, Berges R, Navarrete RV. The efficacy of drugs for the treatment of LUTS/BPH, a study in 6 European countries. Eur Urol. 2007 Jan;51(1):207-15; discussion 215-6. 5. Krzeski T, Kazón M, Borkowski A, Witeska A, Kuczera J. Combined extracts of Urtica dioica and Pygeum africanum in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: double-blind comparison of two doses. Clin Ther. 1993 Nov-Dec;15(6):1011-20. 6. Mantovani F. Serenoa repens in benign prostatic hypertrophy: analysis of 2 Italian studies. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2010 Dec;62(4):335-40. 7. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, editors. PDR for herbal medicines. 4th ed. Montvale, NJ, USA: Thomson Healthcare; 2007. 8. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, editors. PDR for herbal medicines. 4th ed. Montvale, NJ, USA: Thomson Healthcare; 2007. 9. Afendi FM, Okada T, Yamazaki M, Hirai-Morita A, Nakamura Y, Nakamura K, Ikeda S, Takahashi H, Altaf-Ul-Amin M, Darusman LK, Saito K, Kanaya S. KNApSAcK family databases: integrated metabolite-plant species databases for multifaceted plant research. Plant Cell Physiol. 2012 Feb;53(2):e1.