| Medicinal Information |
Why use Saw Palmetto: Extracts of the fruit from saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), the American dwarf palm tree, are commonly used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The first evidence of saw palmetto use for urinary symptoms in men is from Egypt in the 15th century BC. Native Americans in Florida in the early 1700s utilized saw palmetto to treat prostate gland swelling and inflammation, testicular atrophy, and erectile dysfunction .
Saw palmetto berries were officially listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia in the first half of the 20th century [4]. A number of studies and meta-analyses have evaluated extracts of the saw palmetto berry for its safety and efficacy in the treatment of BPH. The saw palmetto berry contains over 100 known compounds but the exact mechanisms of action of saw palmetto are unknown [6].
Why use Epilobium: Extracts from Epilobium sp. herbs have been traditionally used in the treatment of prostate-associated ailments. Studies demonstrated that the extracts from Epilobium angustifolium, Epilobium parviflorum and Epilobium hirsutum herbs are potent prostate cancer cells proliferation inhibitors with IC(50) values around 35 µg/ml. The tested extracts reduced prostate specific antigen (PSA) secretion (from 325.6 ± 25.3 ng/ml to ~90 ng/ml) and inhibited arginase activity (from 65.2 ± 1.1 mUnits of urea/mg of protein to ~40 mUnits of urea/mg protein). Selected constituents of extracts (oenothein B, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside) were proven to be active in relation to LNCaP cells. However, oenothein B was the strongest inhibitor of cells proliferation (IC(50) = 7.8 ± 0.8 μM), PSA secretion (IC(50) = 21.9 ± 3.2 μM) and arginase activity (IC50 = 19.2 ± 2.0 μM). Additionally, ellagitannins from E. hirustum extract were proven to be transformed by human gut microbiota into urolithins. Urolithin C showed the strongest activity in the inhibition of cell proliferation (IC(50) = 35.2 ± 3.7 μM), PSA secretion (reduced PSA secretion to the level of 100.7 ± 31.0 ng/ml) and arginase activity (reduced to the level of 27.9 ± 3.3 mUnits of urea/mg of protein). Results of the work offer an explanation of the activity of Epilobium extracts and support the use of Epilobium preparations in the treatment of prostate diseases. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Why use Red Clover: A special group of constituents (isoflavones) have demonstrated ability to help eliminate prostate cancer cells in a clinical trial with a group of Australian men (20).
Why use Juniper: Because it helps to relieve some of the symptoms, it is safe and natural, and has antioxidant constituents. The Juniperus communis plant is rich in aromatic oils, invert sugars, resins, catechin, organic acid, terpenic acids, leucoanthocyanidin, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, gums, lignins, wax, etc.The essential oil and extracts of juniper have been experimentally documented to have antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities. Recent studies have also found anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of berries in experimental models.
Disclaimer: The statements provided on this website are based on the recorded traditional use of herbs in general and should not be viewed as therapeutic claims for the herbal teas, extracts, and blends on offer. We provide this information for educational purpose to our customers and fans of herbal and natural medicine because we believe it is important to stay connected to our roots and maintain and spread the human knowledge accumulated over centuries of traditional healing. Our herbal blends are custom made in accordance with your needs and not tested for efficacy or listed on the register of therapeutic goods.
References:
- Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Stark G, et al. Saw palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. JAMA 1998; 280:1604.
- Lowe FC, Ku JC. Phytotherapy in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a critical review. Urology 1996; 48:12.
- Bennett B, et al. Uses of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, Arecaceae) in Florida. Econ Bot 1998; 52:381.
- DerMarderosian, A. Saw palmetto in the review of natural products. Facts and Comparisons, St. Louis 2000.
- Blumenthal M, Gruenwald J, Hall T, et al. German Commission E monographs: therapeutic monographs on medicinal plants, American Botanical Council, Austin 1998.
- Barrette EP. Use of saw palmetto extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Alternative Medicine Alert 1998; 1:1.
- Di Silverio F, Monti S, Sciarra A, et al. Effects of long-term treatment with Serenoa repens (Permixon) on the concentrations and regional distribution of androgens and epidermal growth factor in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate 1998; 37:77.
- Marks LS, Hess DL, Dorey FJ, et al. Tissue effects of saw palmetto and finasteride: use of biopsy cores for in situ quantification of prostatic androgens. Urology 2001; 57:999.
- Goepel M, Hecker U, Krege S, et al. Saw palmetto extracts potently and noncompetitively inhibit human alpha1-adrenoceptors in vitro. Prostate 1999; 38:208.
- Strauch G, Perles P, Vergult G, et al. Comparison of finasteride (Proscar) and Serenoa repens (Permixon) in the inhibition of 5-alpha reductase in healthy male volunteers. Eur Urol 1994; 26:247.
- Wadsworth TL, Carroll JM, Mallinson RA, et al. Saw palmetto extract suppresses insulin-like growth factor-I signaling and induces stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation in human prostate epithelial cells. Endocrinology 2004; 145:3205.
- Suzuki M, Oki T, Sugiyama T, et al. Muscarinic and alpha 1-adrenergic receptor binding characteristics of saw palmetto extract in rat lower urinary tract. Urology 2007; 69:1216.
- Levin RM, Das AK. A scientific basis for the therapeutic effects of Pygeum africanum and Serenoa repens. Urol Res 2000; 28:201.
- Paubert-Braquet M, Mencia Huerta JM, Cousse H, Braquet P. Effect of the lipidic lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) on the ionophore A23187-stimulated production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1997; 57:299.
- Dreikorn K, Richter R. Conservative nonhormonal treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: New Developments in Biosciences 5, Prostatic Hyperplasia, Ackerman R, Schroeder FH (Eds), Walter de Gruyter and Co, Berlin 1989. p.109.
- Marwick C. Growing use of medicinal botanicals forces assessment by drug regulators. JAMA 1995; 273:607.
- McGuire E. Detrusor response to obstruction. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 1987.
- Di Silverio F, D'Eramo G, Lubrano C, et al. Evidence that Serenoa repens extract displays an antiestrogenic activity in prostatic tissue of benign prostatic hypertrophy patients. Eur Urol 1992; 21:309.
- Extracts from Epilobium sp Herbs, Their Components and Gut Microbiota Metabolites of Epilobium Ellagitannins, Urolithins, Inhibit Hormone-Dependent Prostate Cancer Cells-(LNCaP) Proliferation and PSA Secretion
Article in Phytotherapy Research 27(12) · December 2013
- Induction of Apoptosis in Low to Moderate-Grade Human Prostate Carcinoma by Red Clover-derived Dietary Isoflavones, 2002 https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/11/12/1689
- Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human medicine - Published online 2019 Aug 31. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02376- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6726717/
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