title: A phase II randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ProstateEZE Max: a herbal medicine preparation for the management of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ProstateEZE Max, an orally dosed herbal preparation containing Cucurbita pepo, Epilobium parviflorum, lycopene, Pygeum africanum and Serenoa repens in the management of symptoms of medically diagnosed benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a short-term phase II randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial was conducted on 57 otherwise healthy males aged 40-80 years that presented with medically diagnosed BPH.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial participants were assigned to receive 3 months of treatment (1 capsule per day) with either the herbal preparation (n = 32) or a matched placebo capsule (n = 25).
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the international prostate specific score (IPSS) measured at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 months. The secondary outcomes were the specific questions of the IPSS and day-time and night-time urinary frequency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in IPSS total median score in the active group of 36% as compared to 8% for the placebo group, during the 3-months intervention (p < 0.05). The day-time urinary frequency in the active group also showed a significant reduction over the 3-months intervention (7.0-5.9 times per day, a reduction of 15.6% compared to no significant reduction change for the placebo group (6.2-6.3 times per day) (p < 0.03). The night-time urinary frequency was also significantly reduced in the active group (2.9-1.8, 39.3% compared to placebo (2.8-2.6 times, 7%) (p < 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The herbal preparation (ProstateEZE Max) was shown to be well tolerated and have a significant positive effect on physical symptoms of BPH when taken over 3 months, a clinically significant outcome in otherwise healthy men.
authors: The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Coulson
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Rao
authors: Shoshannah L
authors: SL
authors: Beck
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Steels
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Gramotnev
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Vitetta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028464:Cucurbita; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D031666:Epilobium; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068218:Prunus africana; D028024:Serenoa; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene