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Serenoa repens |
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Popular for its anti-inflammatory, diuretic, &
anti-androgenic effects, often used to reduce symptoms of benign
prostatic hyperplasia. |
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| Saw palmetto, known
botanically as Serenoa repens or Serenoa serrulata, is a
small, hardy palm, belonging to the family Arecaceae, which includes
true palmettos of the genus Sabal. It grows along coastal dunes
and pinelands from South Carolina, south to Florida and west to
Louisiana. Three to seven fan-shaped leaves grow from the stem each
year. The stems can branch or grow flat on the ground or be submerged in
the sandy soil. They can also grow straight up to heights between ten to
twenty feet tall. White flower clusters grow in the spring, followed by
bunches of green fleshy fruits, known as drupes, which ripen through the
summer, turning bluish-black by fall. Each fruit contains one stony
seed. Saw palmetto was first used by Native American Indians, who
consumed fresh and dried berries as a nutritive tonic and medicine. It
was believed to have a health-promoting effect on the genitourinary
tract of both genders, strengthening and enlarging wasted organs such as
testicles, ovaries, and breasts, but reducing swollen and enlarged
prostate in elderly men, along with symptoms such as painful urination.
Known as a normalizer of the size and function of sex organs, it was
used to restore sexual activity after periods of excess. It was also
known as an alterative, an expectorant for chronic bronchial coughs,
laryngitis, and asthma, and as a tonic for mucus membranes of the
bladder and urethra. Saw palmetto is known for its unusual odor and
taste, which some consider to be unpleasant. Saw palmetto has
anti-inflammatory, diuretic, & anti-androgenic effects. The chemical
composition is not completely understood. Saw palmetto consists mainly
of fatty acids of varying lengths, sterols, such as
b-sitosterol,
as well as flavonoids, polysaccharides, polyprenols, steroidal
compounds, diterpenes, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and alcohols. The
activity may possibly be related to its
b-sitosterol
and fatty acid content, but is still unclear. Today saw palmetto is
popularly used for symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
(swollen prostate) and extracts have been shown to inhibit
testosterone-5-a-reductase,
which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, thus promoting
stimulation of the growth of prostate tissue. By inhibiting the
formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
may be prevented and/or reversed. More research is needed to confirm
this theory. Other possible mechanisms of action include interfering
with DHT receptor -binding, estrogen receptor -binding, or prolactin
receptor -binding. Interference with the receptor-binding of these
hormones would thus limit the action of these hormones. It is also
possible that saw palmetto may have an anti-inflammatory action on
prostate tissues by inhibiting enzymes that produce prostaglandins and
other inflammatory chemicals. Again, more research is needed to confirm
or disprove these theories. Saw palmetto has minimal side effects, with
mild nausea being the worst symptom reported by a select few, and it has
no known drug interactions. Saw palmetto is not recommended for men
suffering from prostate cancer and is only intended for use with
problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), stages 1
and 2. It is always an utmost priority to consult a physician at regular
intervals while attempting to treat conditions such as |
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