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Pygeum

The prostate gland (or prostate) is a walnut-sized, mucous-producing organ in males that lies just below the urinary bladder. The prostate typically grows and enlarges throughout life. In men, the prostate gland is the source of several common disorders including prostatitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), wherein the prostrate gland becomes inflamed or enlarged. Prostatitis is defined as an inflammation or infection of the prostate gland. Men with BPH suffer a variety of micturitional disorders, as discussed above. When prostatic tissue becomes enlarged and inflamed there is increased pressure on the urethra, causing micturition dysfunction such as weak or interrupted urine discharge. There are natural elements which have known benefits in treating enlargement of the prostate gland and prostatitis. The African Pygeum extract is an extract of the air-dried bark from the trunk of the Pygeum africanum. Pygeum africanum is a large evergreen tree growing in the higher plateaus of southern Africa. Pygeum africanum contains three groups of active lipid-soluble substances: phystosterols, pentacyclic triterpenoids and ferulic esters of fatty acid alcohols. Physterols, particularly, beta-isoterols have been shown to reduce elevated levels of prostaglandins in those suffering from BPH. Reduction in prostaglandins helps to reduce the size of prostate adenomas. The triterpenoids are effective anti edema agents. Phytosterols, such as beta-sitosterol, pentacyclic triterpenoids, such as ursolic and oleanic acids and ferulic esters of fatty alcohols, particularly the ferulic esters of docosanol and tetracosanol. The ferulic esters of fatty acid alcohols help to inhibit the absorption and metabolism of cholesterol. Levels of cholesterol in men suffering from BPH is higher as compared to levels from normal healthy individuals. Additionally, treatments using both Pygeum africanum and Serenoa repens have been documented in the literature, but each may have different mechanisms of action.

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