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Py7.0
Pygeum Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
23 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Pygeum appears to help in 3 of 3 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1998–2025 with a typical study size of 1,562 participants.
Based on 23 studies · 3 meta-analyses · 1 RCT · 11,162 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
3helped· 20 more without graded effect data
By outcome
BPH & lower urinary tract symptoms
Likely helps22 studies
Men's vitalityReduced BPH symptoms · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational9 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational6 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 18 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
50%
across studies
People studied
11k
typical study: 1562 people
Strongest designs
4
3 pooled, 1 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
3/3 studies
How long studies ran
3+ months
3
Populations Studied
Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia7
Men with BPH2
Patients with BPH1
Breast cancer patients1
Steady research
6 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2023
199820112025
1Lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasiaMeta-AnalysisCited 33×n=1,562 · large study2023
Current evidence for Pygeum africanum is limited to older trials; newer high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm efficacy for BPH.
Franco JVA et al. · BJU International (2023)
Pygeum showed modest benefits for urological symptoms in pooled analysis of older trials
Evidence quality is low-to-moderate due to dated methodology in available RCTs
Pygeum was well-tolerated with GI side effects being the most common complaint
4Breast cancer treatment outcomesSystematic ReviewCited 5×2025
The findings suggested that East African medicinal plants hold promise as complementary treatments for breast cancer, offering potential benefits such as affordability, cultural appropriateness, and sustainability.
Alum EU et al. · Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (2025)
The findings suggested that East African medicinal plants hold promise as complementary treatments for breast cancer, offering potential benefits such as affordability, cultural appropriateness, and sustainability.
Further research into these plants and their bioactive compounds could revolutionize breast cancer treatment, improving survival rates and addressing the rising incidence of breast cancer-related fatalities.
Other: The review underscores the importance of continued research, conservation, and the integration of ancient healing methods to fully harness the potential of East African flora in breast cancer management.
5Biological activities of Prunus africanaSystematic ReviewCited 10×n=455 · medium study2023
Many of the ethnobotanical assertions for the biological activity of P. africana have been confirmed through in vitro and in vivo studies.
Rubegeta E et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2023)
Many of the ethnobotanical assertions for the biological activity of P. africana have been confirmed through in vitro and in vivo studies.
However, a disparity exists between the biological activity of the whole extract and that of single compounds isolated from the extract, which were reported to be less effective.
This finding suggests that a different approach to biological activity studies should be encouraged that takes all secondary metabolites present into consideration.
In addition, the pharmaceutical care and other therapeutic options of BPH, including pharmacotherapy and surgical options, are discussed, summarizing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy.
Csikós E et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
DHT may promote prostate cell growth, resulting in hyperplasia.
Some medicinal plants and their compounds act by modulating this enzyme, and have the above-mentioned targets.
In addition, the pharmaceutical care and other therapeutic options of BPH, including pharmacotherapy and surgical options, are discussed, summarizing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy.
8Urinary symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasiaSystematic ReviewCited 55×2015
On the basis of preclinical studies several mechanisms of action have been postulated, including 5alpha-reductase inhibition, alpha-adrenergic antagonism, dihydrotestosterone and estrogen receptor ...
Allkanjari O et al. · Life sciences (2015)
On the basis of preclinical studies several mechanisms of action have been postulated, including 5alpha-reductase inhibition, alpha-adrenergic antagonism, dihydrotestosterone and estrogen receptor inhibition.
Randomized clinical trials indicate significant efficacy in improving urinary symptoms and mild adverse effects for some phytotherapeutic agents, while further clinical evidence is needed for others (e.g., Epilobium spp., Secale cereale, Roystonea regia).
Healthcare professionals should be constantly informed about BPH phytotherapy, taking into account the risk/benefit profile of the use of medicinal plants in the management of BPH.
9Lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPHSystematic ReviewCited 50×2014
This articles review the mode of action, the efficacy, and the safety, including herb-drug interactions of the most common botanicals (Serenoa repens, Pygeum africanum, Urtica dioica, and Cucurbita pepo) and nutraceuticals (isoflavones, lycopene, selenium, and β-Sitosterol) in controlling the lower urinary tract symptoms associated to BPH.
Pagano E et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2014)
Histological BPH, which typically develops after the age of 40 years, ranges in prevalence from >50% at 60 years to as high as 90% by 85 years of age.
Typical symptoms include increased frequency of urination, nocturia, urgency, hesitancy, and weak urine stream.
Conventional medicines used for the treatment of BPH include alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
10Androgen receptor antagonism and prostate cancer cell growth inhibitionSystematic ReviewCited 37×2011
Recently, atraric acid and N-butylbenzene-sulfonamide were isolated from a selective dichlormethane extract of P. africanum as two novel AR antagonistic compounds.
Roell D et al. · Molecular and cellular endocrinology (2011)
Recently, atraric acid and N-butylbenzene-sulfonamide were isolated from a selective dichlormethane extract of P. africanum as two novel AR antagonistic compounds.
The molecular mechanisms of AR inhibition were analyzed and are summarized here.
Both compounds are the first known natural, complete and specific AR antagonist.
Twenty years ago, the urologic community was encouraged by trial results that suggested phytotherapy could effectively treat symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Keehn A et al. · Current urology reports (2016)
Twenty years ago, the urologic community was encouraged by trial results that suggested phytotherapy could effectively treat symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Since that time, several well-constructed studies have consistently demonstrated that these agents are no more efficacious than placebo, despite being largely safe for ingestion.
Based on the available literature, there is no evidence that phytotherapy significantly improves symptoms of BPH against placebo, despite being largely safe for ingestion.
Keehn A et al. · The Canadian journal of urology (2015)
Based on the available literature, there is no evidence that phytotherapy significantly improves symptoms of BPH against placebo, despite being largely safe for ingestion.
In patients with mild BPH symptoms who are reluctant to take standard pharmaceutical medications may try these agents provided that the patient understands their current limitations.
Those with moderate or severe BPH should be discouraged from alternative and complementary treatments.
However, β-sitosterol, Pygeum africannum and Cernilton were reviewed in one study each, and significant improvement was observed for all three.
Kim TH et al. · Maturitas (2012)
However, β-sitosterol, Pygeum africannum and Cernilton were reviewed in one study each, and significant improvement was observed for all three.
All the included compounds have mild and infrequent adverse effects.
SRs on β-sitosterol, Pygeum africannum and Cernilton have not been updated since 2000, thus an update of reviews on these compounds will be necessary in the future.
These results, corroborated in part by short-term clinical efficacy, set the stage for a large-scale clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms.Copyright (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Edgar AD et al. · Neurourology and urodynamics (2007)
Furthermore, demonstration of their clinical efficacy in BPH has been hindered by trials of limited duration with a high placebo response.
Beginning with a preliminary demonstration of in vitro inhibition of growth factor-mediated fibroblast proliferation with Pygeum africanum extract, a detailed series of in vitro and in vivo studies on prostate growth and bladder function were undertaken.
These results, corroborated in part by short-term clinical efficacy, set the stage for a large-scale clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms.
20IPSS total score reductionRCTCited 25×n=32 · small study2013
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.
Coulson S et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine (2013)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Borderline
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).