Prunus africana · African plum bark · Tadenan
100 mg · vegan · gluten-free · 60 caps
Affiliate link · we earn from qualifying purchases. No paid placements.
Pygeum africanum is an extract from the bark of the African plum tree (Prunus africana), native to sub-Saharan Africa. It has been used in European phytotherapy for decades to manage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Pygeum bark contains phytosterols (especially β-sitosterol), pentacyclic triterpenes, and ferulic acid esters. It is thought to reduce prostate cell proliferation, inhibit fibroblast growth factor, and exert anti-inflammatory effects within prostatic tissue. The exact active fraction remains poorly characterized.
Men over 50 with mild-to-moderate BPH symptoms seeking a botanical alternative or adjunct to conventional therapy. Not appropriate as monotherapy for moderate-to-severe obstruction.
Avoid if allergic to pygeum or related Rosaceae plants. Use caution if taking anticoagulants. Discontinue before surgery. Not a substitute for urological evaluation if PSA is rising or symptoms are worsening.
Pick a depth — minimum to maximal coverage
No full stack configured.
Click individual supplement pills above to buy each on Amazon India.
✓ Morning dosing may help with daytime urinary frequency; evening dosing may help nocturia
✓ Morning dosing may help with daytime urinary frequency; evening dosing may help nocturia
✓ Take with food to reduce gastrointestinal discomfort
Pygeum bark contains phytosterols (especially β-sitosterol), pentacyclic triterpenes, and ferulic acid esters.
Each bar = one cited trial. Effect varies by methodology, dose, and population.
Representative cohort from published RCT data
Relative to baseline (100). Data from published clinical literature.
263
→ Multicenter double-blind RCT: 66% of pygeum-treated patients improved versus 31% on placebo; significant reductions in nocturia and residual urine.
209
→ 50 mg twice daily and 100 mg once daily both improved IPSS by ~35-38% over 60 days with no significant difference between dosing schedules.
In vitro
→ Pygeum extract inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in BPH-derived prostate stromal cells, with stronger effect on myofibroblasts than smooth muscle cells.
B · Multiple older RCTs show modest short-term symptom improvement, but study quality is variable, durations are short (30-90 days), and long-term outcome data is lacking. A 2002 Cochrane review noted modest benefit but called for better trials.
A plain-English read of the literature behind this supplement. Not a clinical recommendation.
Key citations: See richResearch section for study filters and participant data. Clinical evidence summarised from peer-reviewed journals.
How to use Pygeum Africanum specifically for Frequent urination — the right dose, timing, blood markers to track, and how to know if it is working.
A clinical evidence review of Pygeum Africanum — RCT data, effect sizes, evidence grade, and what the numbers mean for your specific situation.
Everything you need to know about Pygeum Africanum — mechanism, dose, safety, buying guide for India, and what the research actually says.
SacredBod's longer take on Pygeum Africanum — context the structured blocks above don't capture.
Pygeum africanum has been a staple of European urological phytotherapy since the 1960s, yet it remains relatively unknown in North American and Indian markets. For men exploring botanical options for BPH, it offers a plausible but not spectacular evidence base.
The strongest human data comes from a 1990 multicenter European RCT (Barlet et al.) in which 263 men received either pygeum extract (100 mg/day) or placebo for 60 days. Two-thirds of treated men reported symptomatic improvement versus roughly one-third on placebo, with objective reductions in nocturia and residual urine volume. This was a well-designed double-blind study, though published over three decades ago.
A 1999 French trial (Chatelain et al.) compared 50 mg twice daily versus 100 mg once daily in 209 men. Both regimens improved IPSS scores by approximately 35-38%, with no meaningful difference between divided and single dosing. This supports the convenience of once-daily dosing.
However, a 2002 Cochrane systematic review (Ishani et al.) analyzed 18 RCTs involving 1,562 men and concluded that while pygeum provides a “modestly large improvement” in combined urologic outcomes, the evidence is limited by short study durations (mean 64 days), variable preparations, and inconsistent outcome reporting. No trial has assessed whether pygeum alters long-term BPH progression, acute urinary retention risk, or need for surgery.
Pygeum bark contains β-sitosterol and related phytosterols, but also unique ferulic acid esters and triterpenes. In vitro work (Quiles et al., 2010) shows pygeum inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in BPH-derived stromal cells — particularly myofibroblasts, which are overrepresented in enlarged prostates. It also downregulates TGF-β1, a key fibrotic signaling molecule. Whether these cellular effects translate into clinically meaningful prostate volume reduction in humans is unknown.
Beta-sitosterol has more robust and consistent RCT evidence for BPH symptom relief than pygeum. Saw palmetto has a larger commercial presence but similarly mixed human data. Pygeum occupies a niche: it is reasonable to try as part of a multi-ingredient prostate formula, but expecting dramatic monotherapy results is unrealistic. For moderate-to-severe LUTS, prescription alpha-blockers or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors remain the evidence-based standard.
Peptides are physician-only. Tell us a bit and we'll route you to the right specialist.
