Pygeum - Medicinal Uses, Interactions, Side Effects, Dosage
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<p><strong>Pygeum </strong></p>
<p>The African plum, <em>Prunus africana </em>or <em>Pygeum africanum, </em>is an evergreen tree native to the highland forests of central and southern Africa. It is commonly referred to as pygeum. </p>
<p><strong>Uses and Benefits: </strong></p>
<p>A powdered bark extract of pygeum, especially popular in France and Italy since the late 1960s, is commonly used to relieve symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).The powdered bark was traditionally mixed into a milk suspension and drunk to to relieve urinary problems. Pygeum has also been used historically to relieve fever, inflammation, gastrointestinal upset, and kidney disease. </p>
<p><strong>Pharmacology: </strong></p>
<p>The exact chemicals and their mechanism of action responsible for the observed <em>in vivo </em>effects of pygeum remain unknown. The bark contains pentacyclic terpenes, ferulic esters of long-chain fatty acids such as ndocosanol, and phytos­terols such as sitosterol, sitosterene, and campesterol. Pygeum extracts inhibit prostatic fibroblast growth and the effects of certain growth factors, including basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin growth factor. Oral pygeum extracts have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in animal and in <em>in vitro </em>studies. , At high doses, pygeum prepara­tions have weak anti-estrogenic effects in animals. Pygeum extracts preserve bladder contractility and elasticity in several studies of partial bladder outlet obstruction in a rabbit model. This effect may be due to protection against cellular or neuronal membrane damage from hydrolytic enzymes and ischemia. Whether these pharmacologic effects are clinically significant in humans is unknown. </p>
<p><strong>Clinical Trials:</strong></p>
<p>Over 30 clinical trials have reported a variety beneficial effects for BPH. Many of these studies were uncon trolled or had other methodologic flaws, and only a few are avail able in English. The largest, most rigorously designed study conducted to date was published in 1990. This randomized, multinational, doubleblind, and placebo controlled study evalu­dted 50 mg of a standardized pygeum extract (Tadenan) given Iwice daily with meals for 60 days in 255 patients with BPH. The researchers reported that the pygeum extract significantly im­proved outcomes of maximum urine flow rate, residual urine volume, voided volume, nocturia, and daytime urinary frequency (p < 0.025). However, the researchers did not use a standardized :;ymptom score index to measure subjective symptom improve­ment, and not all patient data was included in each analysis of in­dividual outcomes. Similar criticisms apply to many other pygeum studies. </p>
<p>Ibilities of the individual studies limit the results. Only one of the I B studies described their treatment allocation concealment lilethod. Other limitations included small study size, relatively duration for studies of BPH (none more than 4 months), and Iifferences in outcome measurements. Most studies failed to baseline patient demographics such as comorbid condi­lions and prostate size, and there was a lack of standardized urologic symptom score scales. None of the studies compared Ilygeum extracts to alpha-blockers or finasteride. </p>
<p><strong>Adverse Effects:</strong></p>
<p>Pygeum is very well tolerated. Adverse effects are similar in frequency to placebo in the controlled studies. They include mild gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, and headache. </p>
<p><strong>Side Effects and Interactions:</strong> </p>
<p>Pygeum has not been reported to interact with any other medication or supplement. </p>
<p><strong>Cautions: </strong></p>
<p>Pygeum is rarely used in women; there are no data in pregnancy and lactation. </p>
<p><strong>Preparations </strong><strong>& </strong><strong>Doses: </strong></p>
<p>Most of the clinical trials employed a European pygeum extract, Tadenan (currently unavailable in the U.S.), standardized to 14% triterpenes and 0.5% n-docosanol. The usual oral dose was 50 mg taken twice daily. Another European product that has been clinically tested in a few trials, Pygenil, is available in the U.S. as Pygeum Extract (Solaray). Most pygeum products available in the U.S. are combined with other herbs, such as saw palmetto, uva ursi, or pumpkin seed. The optimum dose, and dosing of other pygeum formulations and combination products, is unknown. </p>
<p><strong>Summary Evaluation:</strong> </p>
<p>Based on the beneficial results of clinical trials and its relative safety, pygeum may be a reasonable option for patients with mild BPH symptoms. However, due to deficiencies in the published lit­erature, efficacy has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. There are no data on comparisons with other standard therapies for BPH. </p>
About the Author
Steve Mathew is a writer, who writes many great articles on <a href="http://www.online-health-care.com/herbal-medicines/index.htm">herbal medicines </a> for common ailments and diseases. For more information on herbal remedies and <a href=http://www.home-remedies.info/home-remedies/index.htm">home remedies </a> visit our site on <a href="http://www.health-care-tips.org">health care</a>.
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