Pygeum africana Extract, the most used BPH supplement in France.

The extract of the bark of Pygeum africana is a herbal remedy for prostate and related urinary troubles.  This evergreen botanical, a member of Rosaceae family, reaches a height of 150 feet. Its native place is the entire continent of Africa. It is abundant at 3000 feet altitude or higher regions.

Back in 1700 European travelers knew about its benefits of soothing urinary troubles and ‘old man’s disease’ from South African tribes. Europeans started to use it commonly for BPH since 1960. French people embraced it as the most commonly used medicine for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

The Ingredients Of Pygeum Extract:

Three main types of active compounds are present in Pygeum extract. These are – phytosterols (like beta-sitosterols), pentacyclic triterpenes (like ursolic and oleanic acids) and ferulic acid nesters (n-docosanol and tetracosanol).

The Mechanisms of Action Of Pygeum:

Pygeum benefits in prostate and urinary troubles through three pathways. First mechanism is to reduce the sensitivity of urinary bladder muscles to stimulation by various agents. The bladder muscles remain relaxed and it retains urine for longer time and the tendency to frequently pass urine is normalized.

The second line of benefits is exerted through anti-inflammatory property that reduces swelling, edema and pain.

The production of fibroblast cells is inhibited. Fibroblasts play a role in enlargement of prostate. The activity of acid phosphastase activity and protein secretion by mucus membrane of prostate is restored. However these effects are more relevant in chronic inflammation of prostate, rather than in BPH.

Pygeum For BPH:

According to one of the largest double blind clinical trials of Pygeum in Germany, 263 BPH patients were given 100 mg of Pygeum extract for 60 days.

65% of BPH patients who took pygeum reported got benefit in symptoms compared to 31% in placebo group. The benefits included improvement in urinary flow, increase in urine volume, decreased residual volume in bladder after urination, and a fall in frequency of urination during both day and night.

In another study, researchers reviewed 18 good quality controlled trials from 1966-2000 for an analysis of the benefit of pygeum extract. A total of 1562 men were involved in these trials. They concluded that P. africana provided significant improvement in urological symptoms as well as in urine flow measurements. Overall there is two times likelihood of getting improvement in symptoms like night time frequent urination, residual urine volume and urinary flow rate.

In yet another trial, 209 BPH patients were taken in a parallel group double blind study. Two groups are formed – group A receiving 50 mg of pygeum extract twice a day, group B 100 mg once a day for two month. Then both groups were passed through an open phase when they received 100 mg of extract once daily.

After one month, group A reported 38% benefit and group B 35% benefit in symptoms. The average International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) was the criteria.

After 12 months, the IPSS score decreased by 49%, and quality of life improved by 30% in both groups.

Dosage Of Pygeum Extract:

100-200 mg of Pygeum extract per day is used in most trials. It can be taken in two divided dosage or a single dosage. Two dosage a day of 50 mg demonstrated slightly better result than one dose of 100 mg. No significant side effects and interactions were reported in studies that that ranged from two months to 12 months time.

Research Resources Of Pygeum Extract:

1) Barlet A, Albrecht J, Aubert A, et al. Efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the medical therapy of urination disorders due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: evaluation of objective and subjective parameters. A placebo controlled double-blind multicenter study. Wien Klin Wochenschr 1990; 102:667-673.

2) Paubert-Braquet M, Monboisse JC, Servent-Saez N, et al. Inhibition of bFGF and EGF-induced proliferation of 3T3 fibroblasts by extract of Pygeum africanum (Tadenan). Biomed Pharmacother 1994;48:43-47.

3) Andro MC, Riffaud JP. Pygeum africanum extract for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a review of 25 years of published experience. Curr Ther Res 1995;56:796-817.

4) Breza J, Dzurny O, Borowka A, et al. 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;14:127-139.

5) Ishani A, MacDonald R, Nelson D, et al. Pygeum africanum for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis. Am J Med 2000; 109:654-664.