Pygeum (Prunus africana) bark extract, 200 mg per capsule, standardized to 13% phytosterols 26 mg of phytosterols per capsule. One of the most studied botanical extracts for prostate and urinary health in men, with over 50 years of use in European phytotherapy.
The Botanical
Prunus africana (syn. Pygeum africanum), commonly called African cherry, is a large evergreen tree in the Rosaceae family native to the montane forests of sub Saharan Africa including the highlands of Cameroon, Madagascar, Kenya, and Uganda. Its bark has been used in traditional African herbal medicine for generations for men’s urinary and prostate health. Pygeum bark extract became widely used in European phytotherapy in the 1960s and is now one of the most clinically studied botanical extracts for prostate and urinary health support in men.
Phytosterols The Primary Bioactives
The primary bioactive constituents of Pygeum bark are phytosterols plant derived sterol compounds structurally similar to cholesterol. In Pygeum bark, the principal phytosterols are beta sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. Beta sitosterol is the most abundant and most studied, and is considered the primary compound responsible for Pygeum’s prostate and urinary health supporting properties.
Beta-sitosterol supports prostate health through several complementary mechanisms: inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase (the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, the primary androgen responsible for prostate tissue growth), modulation of prostaglandin synthesis in prostate tissue, and inhibition of growth factor binding to prostate cell receptors. These combined actions support normal prostate size and urinary flow.
Standardization to 13% phytosterols ensures 26 mg of phytosterols in every 200 mg capsule a consistent, verified dose regardless of natural variation in the raw bark between harvest seasons.
