Saw Palmetto In Herbal Supplements
Other Common Names: Sabal, Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata
Range: Southeastern N. America - South Carolina to Florida, west to Arkansas.
Habitat: Low pine woods, savannas and thickets, where it often forms substantial thickets. Also found on coastal sand dunes.
Saw palmetto, a member of the palm family Arecaceae, is native to
the West Indies and the Atlantic Coast of North America, from South
Carolina to Florida. Saw palmetto berries contain sterols and lipids,
including relatively high concentrations of free and bound sitosterols.
The following chemicals have been identified in the berries:
anthranilic acid, capric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, -carotene,
ferulic acid, mannitol, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside,
linoleic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, 1-monolaurin
and 1-monomyristin. A number of other common plants (e.g., basil, corn,
soybean) also contain beta-sitosterol. Saw palmetto extract has become
the sixth best-selling herbal dietary supplement in the United States.
In Europe, several pharmaceutical companies sell saw palmetto-based
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH). Additional pharmaceutical preparations that contain saw palmetto
extract as an ingredient have been patented as hair lotions for the
treatment of seborrhea and hair loss, capsules for the treatment of
hair loss, and lotions/ointments for the treatment of acne.
Beta-sitosterol is available as a cholesterol-lowering drug, and is an
ingredient in some contraceptive drugs.
Plantation Medicinals (the largest U.S. producer) harvests about
5,000 tons of saw palmetto berries per year in Hendry County, Florida.
The second largest producer of the berries is Wilcox Natural Products
in Boone, North Carolina. The export of saw palmetto berries from
Florida has become a $50 million dollar a year industry, with about
2,000 tons of the berries exported to Europe each year. No production
and import volumes were found for sitosterol.
Historically, American Indians used the berries for food. Since 1994
when federal dietary supplement laws were relaxed, the most common use
of the berries by Americans is as an herbal health remedy. The berries
have been used for treating stomach ache, bronchitis, diabetes, cancer,
and cystitis; they have also been used as a diuretic, aphrodisiac, and
for breast enlargement. Saw palmetto berries are claimed to relieve
irritated throat and symptoms of the common cold. The dried berries
have been used as a menstrual drug product. Saw palmetto berry extracts
have been reported to be effective in the treatment of BPH. However,
significant inhibition of prostate growth has not been demonstrated,
and a critical analysis of data on the effects of phytotherapy
(including saw palmetto berry extracts) in BPH treatment suggested that
the effects were no better than placebo treatment.
Saw palmetto extract is not recognized as safe and effective by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is misbranded when labeled
as an OTC drug for use as an orally administered menstrual drug
product. In the U.S., saw palmetto extract may not be sold or labeled
as therapeutic support for the prostate gland or reproductive organs.
Saw palmetto berries are a tonic herb that is used in the treatment
of debility, urinary tract problems and for reducing enlarged prostate
glands.
The partially dried ripe fruit is aphrodisiac, urinary antiseptic,
diuretic, expectorant, sedative and tonic. It is taken internally in
the treatment of impotence, debility in elderly men, prostate
enlargement and inflammation, bronchial complaints associated with
coldness, and wasting diseases. Saw palmetto is one of the few Western
herbs that are considered to be anabolic (strengthening and building
body tissue and encouraging weight gain. The fruit pulp, or a tincture,
is given to those suffering from wasting disease, general debility and
failure to thrive. The fruit also has a beneficial effect on the
urinary system, helping to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate
gland and strengthening the neck of the bladder. The fruit has a
probable oestrogenic action, it is prescribed in the treatment of
impotence, reduced or absent sex drive and testicular atrophy in men
and to stimulate breast enlargement in women. The fruit is also used in
the treatment of colds, coughs, irritated mucous membranes, asthma etc.
A suppository of the powdered fruits, in cocoa butter, has been used as a uterine and vaginal tonic.
Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour but with a soapy taste and a
strong vanilla-like aroma. Regular consumption of the fruit is supposed
to be very beneficial to the health, improving the digestion and
helping to increase weight and strength.
Known Hazards: In rare cases, the consumption of saw palmetto
berries may cause stomach problems, while large amounts might cause
diarrhea. Only minor side effects were reported in studies of BPH
patients ingesting saw palmetto extract: half of the side-effect
symptoms were gastrointestinal. When phytosterols (including
beta-sitosterol) were taken orally to lower plasma cholesterol levels,
no obvious side effects were noted.
Acute toxicity data for saw palmetto extract were not found; the
acute toxicity for beta-sitosterol administered intraperitoneal (i.p.)
to mice is >3000 mg/kg (>7.23 mmol/kg).
Other Common Names: Sabal, Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata
Range: Southeastern N. America - South Carolina to Florida, west to Arkansas.
Habitat: Low pine woods, savannas and thickets, where it often forms substantial thickets. Also found on coastal sand dunes.
Saw palmetto, a member of the palm family Arecaceae, is native to
the West Indies and the Atlantic Coast of North America, from South
Carolina to Florida. Saw palmetto berries contain sterols and lipids,
including relatively high concentrations of free and bound sitosterols.
The following chemicals have been identified in the berries:
anthranilic acid, capric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, -carotene,
ferulic acid, mannitol, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside,
linoleic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, 1-monolaurin
and 1-monomyristin. A number of other common plants (e.g., basil, corn,
soybean) also contain beta-sitosterol. Saw palmetto extract has become
the sixth best-selling herbal dietary supplement in the United States.
In Europe, several pharmaceutical companies sell saw palmetto-based
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH). Additional pharmaceutical preparations that contain saw palmetto
extract as an ingredient have been patented as hair lotions for the
treatment of seborrhea and hair loss, capsules for the treatment of
hair loss, and lotions/ointments for the treatment of acne.
Beta-sitosterol is available as a cholesterol-lowering drug, and is an
ingredient in some contraceptive drugs.
Plantation Medicinals (the largest U.S. producer) harvests about
5,000 tons of saw palmetto berries per year in Hendry County, Florida.
The second largest producer of the berries is Wilcox Natural Products
in Boone, North Carolina. The export of saw palmetto berries from
Florida has become a $50 million dollar a year industry, with about
2,000 tons of the berries exported to Europe each year. No production
and import volumes were found for sitosterol.
Historically, American Indians used the berries for food. Since 1994
when federal dietary supplement laws were relaxed, the most common use
of the berries by Americans is as an herbal health remedy. The berries
have been used for treating stomach ache, bronchitis, diabetes, cancer,
and cystitis; they have also been used as a diuretic, aphrodisiac, and
for breast enlargement. Saw palmetto berries are claimed to relieve
irritated throat and symptoms of the common cold. The dried berries
have been used as a menstrual drug product. Saw palmetto berry extracts
have been reported to be effective in the treatment of BPH. However,
significant inhibition of prostate growth has not been demonstrated,
and a critical analysis of data on the effects of phytotherapy
(including saw palmetto berry extracts) in BPH treatment suggested that
the effects were no better than placebo treatment.
Saw palmetto extract is not recognized as safe and effective by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is misbranded when labeled
as an OTC drug for use as an orally administered menstrual drug
product. In the U.S., saw palmetto extract may not be sold or labeled
as therapeutic support for the prostate gland or reproductive organs.
Saw palmetto berries are a tonic herb that is used in the treatment
of debility, urinary tract problems and for reducing enlarged prostate
glands.
The partially dried ripe fruit is aphrodisiac, urinary antiseptic,
diuretic, expectorant, sedative and tonic. It is taken internally in
the treatment of impotence, debility in elderly men, prostate
enlargement and inflammation, bronchial complaints associated with
coldness, and wasting diseases. Saw palmetto is one of the few Western
herbs that are considered to be anabolic (strengthening and building
body tissue and encouraging weight gain. The fruit pulp, or a tincture,
is given to those suffering from wasting disease, general debility and
failure to thrive. The fruit also has a beneficial effect on the
urinary system, helping to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate
gland and strengthening the neck of the bladder. The fruit has a
probable oestrogenic action, it is prescribed in the treatment of
impotence, reduced or absent sex drive and testicular atrophy in men
and to stimulate breast enlargement in women. The fruit is also used in
the treatment of colds, coughs, irritated mucous membranes, asthma etc.
A suppository of the powdered fruits, in cocoa butter, has been used as a uterine and vaginal tonic.
Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour but with a soapy taste and a
strong vanilla-like aroma. Regular consumption of the fruit is supposed
to be very beneficial to the health, improving the digestion and
helping to increase weight and strength.
Known Hazards: In rare cases, the consumption of saw palmetto
berries may cause stomach problems, while large amounts might cause
diarrhea. Only minor side effects were reported in studies of BPH
patients ingesting saw palmetto extract: half of the side-effect
symptoms were gastrointestinal. When phytosterols (including
beta-sitosterol) were taken orally to lower plasma cholesterol levels,
no obvious side effects were noted.
Acute toxicity data for saw palmetto extract were not found; the
acute toxicity for beta-sitosterol administered intraperitoneal (i.p.)
to mice is >3000 mg/kg (>7.23 mmol/kg).
- Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
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