Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto Supplier of Raw Materials and Retail Products to Distributors and Manufacturers of Saw Palmetto and to the general public

Saw Palmetto, whose botanical name is Serenoa repens, is marketed to the general public mainly as a treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. In the USA, Saw Palmetto's genus/species name is referred to as Serenoa repens. Elsewhere in the world it is referred to as Sabal serrulatum, Sabal serulata, Sabalis serulata, Sabalis serulatae, Serenoa serrulata, Serenoa serrulatae and many other genus/species synonyms. Saw Palmetto, the common name, is referred to as Sabal, Sabal Fructus, Fructus Serenoae, Sägepalme, Sägepalmenfrüchte, and other synonyms around the world. For purposes of this website, we will use the common name Saw Palmetto, and the genus/species name Serenoa repens. Saw Palmetto is a small, low-growing, dwarf-palm tree, native to southeastern North America, particularly Florida.

The Medicinal Parts of Saw Palmetto are the fresh ripe berries (fruit) and dried ripe berries. The berries, when ripe are a bright orange to purple almost black ovate, 3 cm long, 1 seeded berry containing:

Sterols: including beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-3-O-glucosides, beta-sitosterol-O-diglucoside, beta-sitosterol-fatty acid esters and their glucosides, for example beta-sitosterol-3-O-myristate, beta-sitosterol-3-O-(6-O-myristyl-beta-glucosides)

Flavonoids: including isoquercitrin, kaempferol-3-O-glucosides, rhoifolin

Water-soluble polysaccharides (galactoarabane with uronic acid)

Fatty oil: free fatty acids

The benefits of Saw Palmetto can be traced back centuries where the aborigines of Florida depended upon the berries as a staple food item and was included in the Indian medicine mans array of healing herbs. In a book titled "Saw Palmetto", written by Edwin M, Hale, M.D. (1898) and published by Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia, he describes the medicinal value of Saw Palmetto as tinctures of the berries (fruits) and crushed seeds being used for the relief of prostate gland swelling and various aphrodisiac qualities.

For a more details on the history of Saw Palmetto - click here.

Uses of Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is mainly used for the treatment of conditions associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Several factors are recognized as playing a major role in the development of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). First, functioning testes and a critical level of androgens are essential to the development of BPH. Second, a change in prostatic androgen metabolism occurs that favors the accumulation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and third, an increase in the ratio of plasma estrogens to androgens.

Recent clinical research appears to have proven that Saw Palmetto extract is beneficial in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Its mechanism of action in the treatment of BPH is reported that Saw Palmetto inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT, the agent thought to be responsible for the enlargement of the prostrate. In addition Saw Palmetto extract inhibits the binding of DHT to receptors thus blocking its action. It has also been shown to have an inhibitory effect both on androgen and estrogen nuclear receptors. This is accomplished without interfering with testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, or luteinizing hormone levels. Most importantly, Saw Palmetto does not affect PSA levels, thus it does not mask the ability of PSA tests to detect cancer. the Wilt meta-analysis reported in J.A.M.A. and the Carraro study published in Prostate) Dr. Leonard Marks of the urological sciences research foundation in his research confirms this.

Today, Saw Palmetto remains the leading selling of natural prostate remedies. Total sales of Saw Palmetto in mainstream retail stores in the US were over $43 million, ranking Saw Palmetto sixth in total herb sales in 2000 (Blumenthal et al., 2001) In Europe saw palmetto extract is the most commonly used phytotherapeutic agent for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (Di Silverio et al., 1993) While the mainstay of our company is providing manufactures with quality raw materials, we now manufacture our own line of retail products that we market via the internet. They are pure products with no additives and are kosher certified.

Saw Palmetto Dosage recommendations for prostate conditions

Standardized extract 10:1 (85-95% fatty acids), 160 mg twice daily or 320 mg once daily (Braeckman et al., 1997)

Dry Normalized Extract 4:1 (w/w) contains approximately 25% fatty acids, 400 mg twice daily.

Crude ground berry powder, 1-2 grams twice daily.

Other popular uses of Saw Palmetto include:

Saw Palmetto for women in natural breast enlargement and natural breast enhancement pills or in natural viagra or impotency type products such as Red Rooster Pills, a type of herbal viagra.

Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss

Recently an ever increasing number of companies are marketing Saw Palmetto in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The mechanism of action is thought to be that by preventing or slowing down the breakdown of testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone, one can prevent or minimize premature male pattern baldness. The Saw Palmetto Harvesting Company now manufactures a saw palmetto shampoo designs to stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth. An excellent article about the causes of hair loss is written on this and can be accessed here.

Saw Palmetto side effects

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. Stomach complaints following intake have been observed in rare cases.

Saw Palmetto clinical studies

A long-term study of 150 men with clinically diagnosed BPH and complaints of prostatic symptoms has demonstrated "the long-term efficacy and tolerability of Permixon and support its use as a first-line medical therapy for uncomplicated symptomatic BPH." Permixon is a brand of standardized saw palmetto extract sold widely in Europe. The abstract of this study conducted by the Scientific Research Institute of Urology, Moscow, Russia, appeared in the November-December 2002 issue of Advances in Therapy, and is online here.

The study's conclusions are impressive:

At 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), quality of life, and sexual function score were recorded, and urodynamics and biologic values were measured. Adverse events were recorded every 3 months. I-PSS and quality of life improved significantly from baseline at each evaluation time point. At the end of the study and at each evaluation, maximum urinary flow also improved significantly. Prostate size decreased. Sexual function remained stable during the first year of treatment and significantly improved (P = .001) during the second year. Prostate-specific antigen was not affected, and no changes in plasma hormone levels were observed. Nine patients reported 10 adverse events, none related to treatment. Improvements in efficacy parameters began at 6 months and were maintained up to 24 months.

References:

1. Anon. 1892. "Saw Palmetto." Western Druggist(December): 355-356.
2. Brown, D. J. 1995. "Saw Palmetto: Herbal Prescription for Treatment of BPH." Drug Store News for the Pharmacist(April): 23-30.
3. Buck, A. C. 1996. Phytotherapy for the Prostate. British Journal of Urology, 78: 325-336.
4. Carraro, J.-C. et al. 1996. Comparison of Phytotherapy (Permixon) With Finasteride in the Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Randomized International Study of 1,098 Patients. The Prostate, 29: 213-240, 1996.
5. Hale, E. M. 1898. "Saw Palmetto, Its History, Botany, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Provings, Clinical Experience and Therapeutic Applications." : 1-96.
6. Lowe, F. C. and J. C. Ku. 1996. Phytotherapy in Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Critical Review. Urology 48(1):12-20.

Saw Palmetto Wholesale inquiries welcome Contract packaging available.