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 .
Saw palmetto alters nuclear measurements reflecting DNA content in men with symptomatic BPH: evidence for a possible molecular mechanism.
OBJECTIVES To examine the nuclear chromatin characteristics of epithelial cells , looking for an SPHB-mediated effect on nuclear DNA structure and organization . Saw palmetto herbal blend ( SPHB ) causes contraction of prostate epithelial cells and suppression of tissue dihydrotestosterone levels in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia , but a fundamental mechanism remains unknown . METHODS A 6-month r and omized trial , comparing prostatic tissue of men treated with SPHB ( n = 20 ) or placebo ( n = 20 ) , was performed . At baseline , the two groups were similar in age ( 65 versus 64 years ) , symptoms ( International Prostate Symptom Score 18 versus 17 ) , uroflow ( maximal urinary flow rate 10 versus 11 mL/s ) , prostate volume ( 59 versus 58 cm(3 ) ) , prostate-specific antigen ( 4.2 versus 2.7 ng/mL ) , and percentage of epithelium ( 17 % versus 16 % ) . Prostatic tissue was obtained by sextant biopsy before and after treatment . Five-micron sections were Feulgen stained and quantitatively analyzed using the AutoCyte QUIC-DNA imaging system . Images were captured from 200 r and omly selected epithelial cell nuclei , and 60 nuclear morphometric descriptors ( NMDs ) ( eg , size , shape , DNA content , and textural features ) were determined for each nucleus . Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the differences in the variances of the NMDs between the treated and untreated prostate epithelial cells . RESULTS At baseline , the  SPHB  and placebo groups had similar NMD values . After 6 months of placebo , no significant change from baseline was found in the NMDs . However , after 6 months of SPHB , 25 of the 60 NMDs were significantly different compared with baseline , and a multivariate model for predicting treatment effect using 4 of the 25 was created ( P < 0.001 ) . The multivariate model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 94 % and an accuracy of 85 % . CONCLUSIONS Six months of SPHB treatment appears to alter the DNA chromatin structure and organization in prostate epithelial cells . Thus , a possible molecular basis for tissue changes and therapeutic effect of the compound is suggested
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 .