African Plum: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Pygeum
Scientific name(s)
Pygeum africanum, Prunus africana
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Ursolic Acid
N-butylbenzene-sulfonamide
Triterpenoids
Amyrins
Beta-sitosterol
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia ✪✪✪✪✪
Several studies have shown that oral intake of African plum reduces the functional symptoms of BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). It helps reduce nocturia (the need to urinate at night) by 19%, which can significantly improve sleep quality for affected men. Additionally, it promotes an increase in urinary flow, accompanied by a notable 24% reduction in residual urinary volume, relieving uncomfortable symptoms of BPH. A standardized extract of African plum has been used at doses ranging from 75 to 200 mg per day in a single dose or two divided doses. The treatment duration varied from 15 to 120 days. Clinical Study of a Combination: In 2013, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was published that studied the effects of a combination: pumpkin seed oil-Cucurbita pepo (160 mg), willowherb extract-Epilobium parviflorum (equivalent to 500 mg of dry herb), lycopene (2.1 mg), African plum (equivalent to 15 g of dry stem, standardized in β-sitosterol) and Saw Palmetto-S. repens (equivalent to 660 mg of dry leaf) on 57 patients with medically newly diagnosed BPH. After 3 months, the active treatment resulted in a 36% reduction in symptoms compared to 8% for the placebo. Daytime urination frequency was reduced by 15.5% and night-time urination by 39.3%, while no significant reduction was observed in the placebo group during the day and 7% reduction at night.
Posologie
Orally: bark
50 - 200 mg
120 - days
Men
standardized extract
Synergies
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
Efficacy and acceptability of tadenan (Pygeum africanum extract) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a multicentre trial in central Europe.
Controlled study of the effects of Pygeum africanum extract on the functional symptoms of prostatic adenoma.
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.
Review of the experience and evidence of Pygeum africanum in urological practice
[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].
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Pygeum africanum for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis.
Pygeum africanum extract for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. A review of 25 years of published experience.
Prostatitis ✪✪✪✪✪
An African plum tree extract (100 mg/day for 5 to 7 weeks) was used to treat 47 patients with prostatitis. Complete remission was observed in 89% of patients. In another study, African plum tree (200 mg/day for 60 days) was used alone or in combination with antibiotics to treat 18 patients suffering from sexual disorders due to BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or chronic prostatitis. An improvement in urinary symptoms and sexual function was observed.
Posologie
Oral route: bark
100 mg
7 - weeks
Men
standardized extract
Male fertility disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
The African plum tree extract has been suggested to be beneficial in treating patients with sexual conditions and fertility disorders. Indeed, a study showed that taking African plum tree (200 mg/day for 60 days) alone or in combination with antibiotics was beneficial to improve sexual disorders due to BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or chronic prostatitis. An improvement in urinary symptoms and sexual function was observed.
Posologie
Oral route: bark
200 mg
60 - days
Men
standardized extract
Prostate cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
The African plum tree extract is thought to help prevent prostate cancer. African plum tree shows promising potential in the prevention of prostate cancer. In vitro studies reveal its phytosterols inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells, leading to a cytotoxic effect and altering their growth. A specific component, N-butylbenzene-sulfonamide (NBBS), acts as an antagonist to androgen receptors, thus blocking the expression and growth of certain cancer cells. Additionally, another compound, 2,4-Dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzoate methyl ester, has anti-androgenic activity. These findings, supported by the cell multiplication blocking effect of an ethanolic extract of P. africanum on other cancer cell lines and a significant reduction in prostate cancer incidence in a mouse model, suggest strong therapeutic potential. Although these discoveries are promising, it is important to emphasize that, to date, there is no direct clinical confirmation of the effects of African plum tree extract on prostate cancer in humans. Further clinical research is necessary to validate these preliminary results.
Posologie
Oral route: bark
100 - 200 mg
Men
standardized extract
Phytosterol Pygeum africanum regulates prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo
The natural compound atraric acid is an antagonist of the human androgen receptor inhibiting cellular invasiveness and prostate cancer cell growth
NBBS isolated from Pygeum africanum bark exhibits androgen antagonistic activity, inhibits AR nuclear translocation and prostate cancer cell growth
[Antimitogenic effect of Pygeum africanum extracts on human prostatic cancer cell lines and explants from benign prostatic hyperplasia]
Isolation of atraric acid, synthesis of atraric acid derivatives, and use of atraric acid and the derivatives thereof for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate carcinoma and spinobulbar muscular atrophy
Properties
Anti-inflammatory
The phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, beta-sitostenone), components of African plum, inhibit prostaglandin production in the prostate, reducing inflammatory symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia and chronic prostatitis. The pentacyclic triterpenes (oleanolic and ursolic) also inhibit glucosyltransferase activity, an enzyme involved in inflammation. Furthermore, studies on African plum extract confirm it decreases the production of leukotrienes and other metabolites of 5-lipoxygenase.
Usages associés
Antiandrogenic
The compounds present in African plum, notably atraric acid and N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS), seem to act as antagonists to androgen receptors. They inhibit the activation of these receptors but not glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors. This results in inhibition of the expression of prostate-specific antigen, suggesting therapeutic anti-androgenic potential, particularly in the context of prostatic pathologies.
Usages associés
Anticancer
African plum extracts show anticancer potential, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, ethanolic extracts of African plum inhibited cancer cell line growth by inducing apoptosis, interfering with cell kinetics, and downregulating ER alpha proteins (estrogen receptor alpha naturally binding estrogens) and PKC-alpha (protein kinase C alpha). These proteins play crucial roles in various cell functions like apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation, making their downregulation a means to prevent cancer cell proliferation. In animals, African plum has shown a significant reduction in prostate cancer incidence (35%) compared to casein-fed mice (62.5%). This antiproliferative action extends beyond cancer cells to include prostatic fibroblasts and epithelial cells, suggesting a comprehensive approach in combating prostate growth and cellular hyperplasia. The inhibition of specific growth factors by African plum extracts may also play a crucial role in this process, limiting signals that normally encourage prostate cell proliferation and expansion.
Usages associés
Hormonal Metabolism
In vivo studies have shown that administering an extract of African plum has a significant effect on dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a biologically active metabolite of testosterone, formed in the prostate, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands under the action of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. 5-alpha reductase is a key enzyme in metabolizing testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which plays a major role in prostate hyperplasia. African plum appears to inhibit this enzyme, albeit less powerfully than finasteride, a well-known synthetic inhibitor. African plum has been shown to inhibit DHT-induced prostatic growth, suggesting a mechanism of action independent of androgen receptor blockade. Moreover, African plum contains phytoestrogens that seem to exert estrogenic activity. Indeed, preliminary animal research shows African plum extract increases the uterus weight of mice that had undergone ovary and adrenal gland removal, suggesting estrogenic activity.
Usages associés
Estrogenic Action
African plum contains phytoestrogens, some of which have a structure similar to estradiol and may exert estrogenic activity.
Safety dosage
Adults from 18 years: 100 mg - 200 mg (standardized extract)
Lipophilic bark extract of pygeum or African plum tree is generally administered in a standardized form to contain 13% sterols, including beta-sitosterol, and 0.5% n-docosanol triterpenes, at a daily dose of 100-200 mg.
Precautions
Pregnant women: avoid
Usage is to be avoided due to lack of information.
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Usage is to be avoided due to lack of information.
Child up to 18 years: avoid
Use in children and adolescents under 18 years is not recommended.
