title: Saw palmetto for prostate disorders.
abstract: Saw palmetto is an herbal product used in the treatment of symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia. The active component is found in the fruit of the American dwarf palm tree. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of saw palmetto in reducing symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto appears to have efficacy similar to that of medications like finasteride, but it is better tolerated and less expensive. There are no known drug interactions with saw palmetto, and reported side effects are minor and rare. No data on its long-term usage are available. The herbal product also has been used to treat chronic prostatitis, but currently there is no evidence of its efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Harrisburg Family Practice Residency Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-2098, USA. agordon@pinnacle.health.org
authors.forename: Andrea E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Allen F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Shaughnessy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D028024:Serenoa; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; C040972:saw palmetto extract