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 .
Serenoa repens treatment modifies bax/bcl-2 index expression and caspase-3 activity in prostatic tissue from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
PURPOSE Permixon is a lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens ( SR ) widely used to treat men with benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) . We tested the effect of this drug on molecular mechanisms associated with apoptosis , such as the Bax-to-Bcl-2 expression ratio and caspase-3 activity , in prostatic tissue from men with symptomatic BPH treated for 3 months before surgery . MATERIAL S AND METHODS An open , multicenter pilot study of 2 parallel groups of patients with BPH was done . They were r and omized to be followed for 3 weeks without any treatment before surgery ( control group ) or to receive 160 mg SR orally twice daily for a 3-month period preceding the same surgery . Surgery was ultimately performed in 17 controls and 12 patients by transurethral prostate resection or retropubic adenomectomy .  Bax and Bcl-2 expression , and caspase-3 activity were determined by Western blot in 15 controls and 10 patients , and reported in blinded fashion . RESULTS The Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio , which is used as an apoptotic index , was significantly increased in the prostatic tissue of treated patients . The level of the intact 116 kDa poly ( adenosine diphosphate-ribose ) polymerase form , an enzyme involved in the cell death apoptotic pathway , was also found to be decreased in prostatic tissue from SR treated patients , suggesting increased caspase 3 activity in the prostate . CONCLUSIONS Permixon increased molecular markers involved in the apoptotic process , ie the Bax-to-Bcl-2 expression ratio and caspase-3 activity . This could have clinical relevance due to the improvement in symptoms produced by treatment with this drug
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 .