Pygeum is an extract of the African prune tree (Pygeum africanum) used as an herbal remedy for urinary symptoms from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.
Also known as: Pygeum africanum, Prunus africana, African prune.
Pygeum has no intake value. The Cochrane review notes the trials used varied doses and preparations, so we do not list an amount.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling.
A Cochrane review (Wilt 2002; also published as Ishani 2000) found 18 randomized trials with 1,562 men, lasting 64 days on average. Compared with placebo, pygeum gave a moderately large improvement in combined urinary symptoms and flow: men were about twice as likely to report better overall symptoms, night-time urination fell by 19%, leftover urine by 24%, and peak urine flow rose by 23%. Side effects were mild and similar to placebo.
The reviewers cautioned that the studies were small and short, used different doses and preparations, and rarely used standard symptom scores, and that none compared pygeum with standard BPH drugs such as alpha blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
We could not find a published half-life or time to peak for pygeum that we could cite, so we do not list one.
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