Pygeum africanum or Prunus africana is a plum tree in tropical Africa. Its deeply fissured, blackish or grayish-brown bark extract has several health benefits and has been traditionally used across many cultures. Pygeum, as a nutritional supplement, is widely used to promote prostate health and address conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).*
What does pygeum contain to promote prostate health? What are the benefits and uses of pygeum supplements? Is pygeum safe and are there any side effects? This article explains the overall role of pygeum in supporting healthy aging and why you should include an advanced pygeum nutritional supplement in your diet. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.
What is Pygeum?
Pygeum is the generic name for extracts, teas, and supplements made from the bark of the Pygeum africanum or Prunus africana tree. Research indicates that pygeum helps relieve urinary discomfort, including poor urine flow and frequent urination, often associated with an enlarged prostate or BPH.* Pygeum is commercially available as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement with formulations usually containing additional therapeutic botanicals, such as saw palmetto berry and summer pumpkin seed extracts.
Chemical Composition of Pygeum
The bark of Pygeum africanum contains various bioactive compounds that are known for their potential therapeutic benefits in supporting prostate health, including:
- Atranorin
- Atraric acid
- Beta-sitosterol and its esters
- Ferulic acid and its esters
A comparative study1 on the chemical composition of the bark of Pygeum africanum and commercial pygeum products found that:
- Both were similar in their content of atranorin and atraric acid.
- More than 90 percent of ferulic acid was present as esters; on average, the total amount of ferulic acid was four times higher in the bark than in pygeum products.
- The total beta-sitosterol concentration in the pygeum products was significantly higher than in the bark. Some pygeum samples had total beta-sitosterol levels above 10,000 μg/g, whereas the bark contained approximately 680 μg/g of the compound. The beta-sitosterol content in pygeum products followed the labeled values for phytosterol content.
A systematic review2 assessing the benefits of beta-sitosterols concluded that beta-sitosterols help improve flow measures and address the urological discomfort associated with mild-to-moderate BPH.* However, the long-term effectiveness and safety of beta-sitosterols and their ability to alleviate BPH complications are unknown.
Pharmacological Properties of Pygeum
On a cellular level, BPH is the imbalance between prostatic cellular proliferation and cell death/apoptosis. Although aging and androgens (sex hormones) directly influence the unwanted progression of BPH, several other adverse factors, such as oxidative stress, infection, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation, can lead to an enlarged prostate.
The exact mechanism of action of pygeum to respond to BPH is not fully understood. However, the following table highlights the pharmacological properties of pygeum and how they may contribute to its beneficial effects.
Pharmacological Properties of Pygeum |
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a. Limiting cellular proliferation: Pygeum has been found3 to inhibit different growth factors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I), which can limit cellular proliferation in the prostate and its resulting enlargement.* | |
b. Maintaining normal inflammatory response: Pygeum has been shown to inhibit the production4 of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins in the prostate, decreasing the production of leukotrienes and other 5-lipoxygenase metabolites.* | |
c. Limiting androgenic activity: Androgen receptor activity is known to control the enlargement of the prostate. The atraric acid in pygeum has been shown6 to inactivate androgen receptors, which limits the progression of BPH.* |
How Effective is Pygeum in Addressing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
BPH is characterized by a progressive decrease in the force of the urinary stream and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. The efficacy of pygeum in addressing BPH can be determined through parameters such as the IPSS score and the maximum urinary flow rate.
- International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS): The IPSS is a questionnaire-based screening tool for tracking the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of BPH. A score of 0 to 7 indicates mild symptoms, 8 to 19 indicates moderate symptoms and 20 to 35 indicates severe symptoms.
- Maximum Urinary Flow Rate: An obstruction of the urinary tract, such as an enlarged prostate, adversely impacts urine flow. Flow rate is calculated as milliliters (ml) of urine passed per second. Typically, urine flow in males is 10 ml to 21 ml per second. The maximum flow rate is used to determine the severity of the blockage or obstruction in the urinary tract.
An open, three-center efficacy and safety study7 of Pygeum africanum extract was conducted to confirm its therapeutic profile. Eighty-five men aged 50-75 with IPSS scores of 12 or more, maximum urinary flow rate of 15 ml per second or less, and a quality of life (QoL) of 3 or more were selected for the study. It was observed that efficacy parameters, including IPSS, quality of life (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate, nocturnal frequency, and average urinary flow, improved after the twice-daily intake of 50 mg of Pygeum africanum extract for two months.* The improvements exceeded those observed with placebo in earlier studies and were maintained after one month after taking the extract.
Is Pygeum Safe?
Pygeum is generally well-tolerated, and has only mild side effects, such as headache, diarrhea, constipation, or nausea.
A randomized, double-blind study8 on two groups of men experiencing BPH symptoms compared the efficacy and safety of Pygeum africanum extract taken 50 mg twice daily and 100 mg once daily. The main efficacy assessment parameters were IPSS, QOL, and maximum urinary flow rate. Both groups showed an increase in maximum urinary flow rate, with a gradual dip in IPSS and overall improvement in QOL.* Oral intake of Pygeum africanum extract at both 50 mg twice daily and 100 mg once daily proved safe at two months. Further enhancements in efficacy with a satisfactory safety profile were documented after 12 months.*
Pygeum Supplement Benefits and Uses
The benefits and uses of pygeum supplements are attributed to the bioactive compounds in pygeum extract, particularly the phytosterols, triterpenoids, and ferulic esters. The primary benefit of pygeum supplement is limiting inflammation and swelling in the prostate, which helps alleviate prostate enlargement.*
- Maintaining normal inflammatory response: The phytosterols help maintain normal inflammatory responses by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins (a group of lipid compounds that play a key role in generating inflammatory responses).*
- Blocking enzymatic activities that trigger swelling in the prostate: Pentacyclic triterpenoids have been found10 to block enzymatic activities associated with swelling in the prostate gland.*
- Limiting cholesterol deposits in the prostate: Ferulic esters help10 limit cholesterol deposits in the prostate, a condition associated with BPH.*
Traditionally, decoctions of the pygeum bark have been taken orally for various health conditions affecting the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and genito-urinary systems. The commercial lipophilic extract of pygeum is mainly used to address an enlarged prostate or BPH.*
Frequently Asked Questions About Pygeum Supplements
The following are frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the benefits and uses of pygeum supplements:
Is phytotherapy effective in addressing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
Phytotherapy is a popular complementary approach to addressing BPH that utilizes herbs and plants to reduce prostate enlargement. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extracts, Pygeum africanum extracts, and Cucurbita pepo (summer pumpkin), either alone or in combination, have shown11 positive results in countering BPH symptoms.*
When should I include a pygeum supplement in my diet?
Although the efficacy and safety of pygeum extract in addressing BPH symptoms are well-documented, you should consult with your health-care provider before including a pygeum supplement in your diet.
Can I take a pygeum supplement with prescription medications?
Pygeum is known to be safe, and there are no known adverse interactions with prescription medications. However, you should consult with your healthcare provider before taking a pygeum supplement with a prescription medication.
How do I determine the best pygeum supplement formulation for promoting prostate health?
The lack of standardization of pygeum extracts significantly impacts its effectiveness. To optimize the nutrient’s benefits, look for a pygeum supplement formulated using scientifically advanced techniques and a well-designed quality control system.
ProstaSorb®, an advanced prostate health supplement developed by Tesseract Medical Research, addresses the unpleasant urological symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.* The formulation is manufactured in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) – compliant environment to ensure a standardized, high-quality supplement. ProstaSorb’s botanical blend features three clinically tested plant extracts — Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), Pygeum africanum, and Cucurbita pepo (summer pumpkin) for optimal prostate and urinary health support.*
Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® —DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables optimal absorption of ProstaSorb’s active nutrients, helping you achieve their benefits. The ability to micro-dose the active ingredients achieves maximum efficiency in a single capsule. There are several traditional pygeum supplement benefits and uses. ProstaSorb® helps you achieve the benefits of pygeum through advanced nano-delivery of the nutrient to promote optimal prostate and urinary health.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support prostate health, as well as healthy aging.*
Citations:
1Thompson, Robert Q et al. “Chemical comparison of Prunus africana bark and pygeum products marketed for prostate health.” Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis vol. 163 (2019): 162-169. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2018.10.004
2Wilt, T et al. “Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 1999,2 (2000): CD001043. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001043
3Yablonsky, F et al. “Antiproliferative effect of Pygeum africanum extract on rat prostatic fibroblasts.” The Journal of urology vol. 157,6 (1997): 2381-7.
4Villar A, Silva-Fuentes F, Mulà A, Zangara A. Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Pygeum africanum Bark Extract: An In Vitro Study of Cytokine Release by Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(15):8298.
5Paubert-Braquet, M et al. “Effect of Pygeum africanum extract on A23187-stimulated production of lipoxygenase metabolites from human polymorphonuclear cells.” Journal of lipid mediators and cell signalling vol. 9,3 (1994): 285-90.
6Ehsani, Marzieh et al. “The natural compound atraric acid suppresses androgen-regulated neo-angiogenesis of castration-resistant prostate cancer through angiopoietin 2.” Oncogene vol. 41,23 (2022): 3263-3277. doi:10.1038/s41388-022-02333-7
7Breza, J et al. “Efficacy and acceptability of tadenan (Pygeum africanum extract) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a multicentre trial in central Europe.” Current medical research and opinion vol. 14,3 (1998): 127-39. doi:10.1185/03007999809113352
8Chatelain, C et al. “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 vol. 54,3 (1999): 473-8. doi:10.1016/s0090-4295(99)00147-8
9Yin, Mei-Chin. “Inhibitory effects and actions of pentacyclic triterpenes upon glycation.” BioMedicine vol. 5,3 (2015): 13. doi:10.7603/s40681-015-0013-x
10Raftopulos, Nikki L et al. “Prostate cancer cell proliferation is influenced by LDL-cholesterol availability and cholesteryl ester turnover.” Cancer & metabolism vol. 10,1 1. 15 Jan. 2022, doi:10.1186/s40170-021-00278-1
11Schleich, Sonja et al. “Extracts from Pygeum africanum and other ethnobotanical species with antiandrogenic activity.” Planta medica vol. 72,9 (2006): 807-13. doi:10.1055/s-2006-946638