Serenoa repens was not more effective than placebo for treatment of urinary symptoms consistent with BPH
BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) , a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate , can lead to obstructive and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) .
The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs ( phytotherapy ) for the treatment of LUTS associated with BPH is common .
The extract of the berry of the American saw palmetto , or dwarf palm plant , Serenoa repens ( also known by its botanical name of Sabal serrulatum ) , is one of several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH .
OBJECTIVES This systematic review aim ed to assess the effects of Serenoa repens in the treatment of LUTS consistent with BPH .
Long-term efficacy and safety of a combination of sabal and urtica extract for lower urinary tract symptoms—a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial
The efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of 160 mg sabal fruit extract WS 1473 and 120 mg urtica root extract WS 1031 per capsule ( PRO 160/120 ) was investigated in elderly , male patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia in a prospect i ve multicenter trial . A total of 257 patients ( 129 and 128 , respectively ) were r and omized to treatment with PRO 160/120 or placebo  ( 127 and 126 were evaluable for efficacy ) . Following a single-blind placebo run-in phase of 2 weeks , the patients received 2 × 1 capsule/day of the study medication under double-blind conditions over a period of 24 weeks . Double-blind treatment was followed by an open control period of 24 weeks during which all patients were administered PRO 160/120 . Outcome measures for treatment efficacy included the assessment of the patients ’ LUTS by means of the I-PSS self-rating question naire and a quality of life index as well as uroflow and sonographic parameters . Using the International Prostate Symptom Score ( I-PSS ) , patients treated with PRO 160/120 exhibited a substantially higher total score reduction after 24 weeks of double-blind treatment than patients of the placebo group ( 6 points vs 4 points ; P=0.003 , one tailed ) with a tendency in the same direction after 16 weeks . This applied to obstructive as well as to irritative symptoms , and to patients with moderate or severe symptoms at baseline . Patients r and omized to placebo showed a marked improvement in LUTS ( as measured by the I-PSS ) after being switched to PRO 160/120 during the control period ( P=0.01 , one tailed , in comparison to those who had been treated with PRO 160/120 in the double-blind phase ) . The tolerability of PRO 160/120 was comparable to the placebo . In conclusion , PRO 160/120 was clearly superior to the placebo for the amelioration of LUTS as measured by the I-PSS . PRO 160/120 is advantageous in obstructive and irritative urinary symptoms and in patients with moderate and severe symptoms . The tolerability of the herbal extract was excellent
Serenoa repens was not more effective than placebo for treatment of urinary symptoms consistent with BPH
BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) , a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate , can lead to obstructive and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) .
The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs ( phytotherapy ) for the treatment of LUTS associated with BPH is common .
The extract of the berry of the American saw palmetto , or dwarf palm plant , Serenoa repens ( also known by its botanical name of Sabal serrulatum ) , is one of several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH .
OBJECTIVES This systematic review aim ed to assess the effects of Serenoa repens in the treatment of LUTS consistent with BPH .