Biology:Saw palmetto extract

Short description: Dietary supplement

Saw palmetto extract is an extract of the fruit of the saw palmetto. It is marketed as a dietary supplement that may help with benign prostatic hyperplasia, but there is no clinical evidence that it is effective for this purpose.

Uses and research

Saw palmetto extract is commonly sold as a dietary supplement intended to improve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—also called prostate gland enlargement—which is a common condition among men as they age. An enlarged prostate may cause increased frequency or urgency of urination, difficulty initiating urination, weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts, dribbling at the end of urination, and inability to completely empty the bladder.

Saw palmetto extract has been studied in clinical trials as a possible treatment for people with prostate cancer and for men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. (As of 2022), there is insufficient scientific evidence that saw palmetto extract is effective for treating cancer or BPH and its symptoms.

One 2016 review of clinical studies with a standardized extract of saw palmetto (called Permixon) found that the extract was safe and may be effective for relieving BPH-induced urinary symptoms compared with a placebo.

Folk medicine

Saw palmetto was used in folk medicine to treat coughs or other disorders.

Precautions and contraindications

Children

The use of saw palmetto extract is not recommended in children under 12 years old because it may affect the metabolism of androgen and estrogen hormones.

Pregnancy and lactation

Saw palmetto extract should not be used during pregnancy because it may affect androgen and estrogen metabolism. As there is no rationale for using saw palmetto during pregnancy, it should be avoided when pregnant or while breastfeeding.

PSA test interference

Saw palmetto has been shown to reduce the levels of PSA in the blood, a hormone produced by the prostate and used as a marker by healthcare providers to evaluate the presence of prostate cancer. Taking saw palmetto can artificially reduce the levels of PSA, interfering with test results.

Interactions

Saw palmetto extract has interactions with other medications. When used in combination with an anticoagulant or anti-platelet drug, saw palmetto extract can increase the risk of bleeding by enhancing the anticoagulation or anti-platelet effects. Some examples of anticoagulant and anti-platelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and warfarin.

References

{{Navbox

| name = Drugs used in benign prostatic hypertrophy
| title = Drugs used in [[Medicine:Benign prostatic hyperpbenign prostatic hyperplasia (G04C)
| state = collapsed
| listclass = hlist

| group1 = 5α-Reductase inhibitors
| list1 =

• Dutasteride
• Epristeride
• Finasteride

| group2 = Alpha-1 blockers
| list2 =

• Alfuzosin
• Doxazosin
• Silodosin
• Tamsulosin
• Terazosin

| group3 = Steroidal antiandrogens
| list3 =

• Allylestrenol
• Delmadinone acetate
• Gestonorone caproate
• Osaterone acetate
• Oxendolone

| group4 = Herbal products
| list4 =

• Pygeum africanum
• Saw palmetto extract

| group5 = Others
| list5 =

• Mepartricin

}}

{{Navbox

| name = Androgens and antiandrogens
| title = Androgens and antiandrogens
| state = collapsed
| listclass = hlist
| groupstyle = text-align:center;

| group1 = Androgens
(incl. AAS)

| list1 =

AR agonists

Testosterone derivatives: Androstenediol dipropionate Boldenone undecylenate Clostebol Clostebol acetate Clostebol caproate Clostebol propionate Cloxotestosterone acetate Prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) Prasterone enanthate (DHEA enanthate) Prasterone sulfate (DHEA sulfate) Quinbolone Testosterone# Testosterone esters (e.g., testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate]], testosterone propionate]], testosterone undecanoate]], testosterone ester mixture]]s (Deposterona, Omnadren, Sustanon, Testoviron Depot)) Dihydrotestosterone derivatives: Androstanolone (stanolone, dihydrotestosterone, DHT) Androstanolone esters Bolazine capronate Drostanolone propionate (dromostanolone propionate) Epitiostanol Mepitiostane Mesterolone Metenolone acetate (methenolone acetate) Metenolone enanthate (methenolone enanthate) Stenbolone acetate 19-Nortestosterone derivatives: Bolandiol dipropionate Nandrolone esters (e.g., nandrolone decanoate, nandrolone phenylpropionate) Norclostebol Norclostebol acetate Oxabolone cipionate (oxabolone cypionate) Trenbolone acetate Trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate (trenbolone cyclohexylmethylcarbonate) 17α-Alkylated testosterone derivatives: Bolasterone Calusterone Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (CDMT) Fluoxymesterone Formebolone Metandienone (methandienone, methandrostenolone) Methandriol (methylandrostenediol) Methandriol bisenanthoyl acetate Methandriol dipropionate Methandriol propionate Methyltestosterone Methyltestosterone 3-hexyl ether Oxymesterone Penmesterol Tiomesterone (thiomesterone) 17α-Alkylated dihydrotestosterone derivatives: Androisoxazole Furazabol Mebolazine (dimethazine) Mestanolone Oxandrolone Oxymetholone Stanozolol 17α-Alkylated 19-nortestosterone derivatives: Ethylestrenol Mibolerone Norethandrolone Normethandrone (methylestrenolone, normethisterone) Propetandrol (propethandrol) 17α-Vinyltestosterone derivatives: Norvinisterone (vinylnortestosterone) 17α-Ethynyltestosterone derivatives: Danazol Gestrinone Progestins (e.g., ethisterone (ethynyltestosterone), levonorgestrel, norgestrel, norethisterone (norethindrone), [[Chemistry:Lynestrlynestrenol, Norgestrienone|norgestrienone]]) Tibolone Progesterone derivatives: Medroxyprogesterone acetate

Progonadotropins

Antiestrogens (e.g., tamoxifen, Chemistry:Clomifene

| group2 = Antiandrogens
| list2 = {{Navbox|child
| groupstyle = text-align:center;
| groupwidth = 9em;

  | group1 = AR antagonists
  | list1 =

• Steroidal: Abiraterone acetate
• Canrenone
• Chlormadinone acetate
• Cyproterone acetate
• Delmadinone acetate
• Dienogest
• Drospirenone
• Medrogestone
• Megestrol acetate
• Nomegestrol acetate
• Osaterone acetate
• Oxendolone
• Potassium canrenoate
• Spironolactone

• Nonsteroidal: Apalutamide
• Bicalutamide
• Cimetidine
• Darolutamide
• Enzalutamide
• Flutamide
• Ketoconazole
• Nilutamide
• Seviteronel^†
• Topilutamide (fluridil)

  | group2 = Steroidogenesis
inhibitors

| list2 =

5α-Reductase	Alfatradiol Dutasteride Epristeride Finasteride Saw palmetto extract
Others	Abiraterone acetate Aminoglutethimide Bifluranol Cyproterone acetate Flutamide Ketoconazole Nilutamide Seviteronel† Spironolactone

  | group3 = Antigonadotropins
  | list3 =

• D₂ receptor antagonists (prolactin releasers) (e.g., domperidone, metoclopramide, risperidone, haloperidol, chlorpromazine, sulpiride)
• Estrogens (e.g., bifluranol, [[diethylstilbestrol, estradiol, estradiol esters, ethinylestradiol, ethinylestradiol sulfonate, paroxypropione)
• GnRH agonists (e.g., leuprorelin)
• GnRH antagonists (e.g., cetrorelix)
• Progestogens (incl., chlormadinone acetate, [[cyproterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, gestonorone caproate, [[Chemistry:Medroxyprogesterone medroxyprogesterone acetate, Chemistry:Megestrol acetate|megestrol acetate]])

  | group4 = Others
  | list4 =

• Androstenedione immunogens: Androvax (androstenedione albumin)
• Ovandrotone albumin (Fecundin)

}}

| liststyle = background:#DDDDFF;

| list3 =

• ^#WHO-EM
• ^‡Withdrawn from market
• Clinical trials:
  • ^†Phase III
  • ^§Never to phase III

See also

Androgen receptor modulators

Estrogens and antiestrogens

Progestogens and antiprogestogens

List of androgens/anabolic steroids

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