Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous growth of the prostate. BPH commonly occurs in elderly men. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPH (LUTS/BPH) have significant impacts on their health. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract (SPE) has been evaluated for its effectiveness in improvement of LUTS/BPH at preclinical and clinical levels. Potential mechanisms of actions include anti-androgenic, pro-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, SPE efficacy was inconsistent, at least partly due to a lack of a standardized SPE formula. A hexane extract (free fatty acids, > 80%) provided more consistent results. Free fatty acids (lauric acid) were effective in inhibition of 5α-reductase, and phytosterol (β-sitosterol) reduced prostatic inflammation. Multiple actions derived from different constituents may contribute to SPE efficacy. Evaluation of the clinical relevance of these bioactive components is required for standardization of SPE, thereby enabling consistent efficacy and recommendations for the use in the prevention and treatment of BPH.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1599-1606 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Food Science and Biotechnology |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Dec 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by a grant from the Ottogi Foundation (16-241).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology.
Keywords
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Fatty acids
- Phytosterol
- Saw palmetto extract
- Standardized formula