In Europe, pygeum extract (trade name: Tadenan®) from the African plum tree has been used as a licensed medical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; i.e., enlarged prostate gland that is non-cancerous) for decades. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that pygeum extract improved overall health and symptoms of urinary problems in patients with BPH.

The bioactive compounds in pygeum extract, N-butylbenzenesulfonamide and atraric acid, have been found to decrease the (i) secretion of growth factors and inflammatory mediators and (ii) activation of androgen receptors in human cells. Such growth factors and androgens (e.g., testosterone) are known to drive the growth of both non-cancerous and cancerous prostate tumours. Thus, pygeum extract is also beneficial in treating prostate cancer.

For instance, a study has demonstrated that pygeum extract successfully prevented prostate cancer in both cell culture and animal experiments. Specifically, only 35% of the mice fed with pygeum extract developed prostate cancer compared to 63% in the control group. Another study further confirmed that pygeum extract stops androgen signalling in prostate cancer cells. Besides prostate cancer, pygeum extract has also been shown to kill colorectal, liver and breast cancer cells, and even multidrug-resistant cancer cells via apoptosis: programmed cell death. Indeed, a 2017 review of literature concurred that pygeum extract is capable of preventing cancer growth and killing cancer cells, primarily via hormonal (androgen) modulation and apoptotic cell death.

More recently, scientists have discovered that pygeum extracts also exhibit neuroprotective effects. A 2022 study found that mice with cognitive impairments demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive function when treated with pygeum extract, performing on par with those given donepezil, a standard drug for Alzheimer’s disease. Further analysis revealed that pygeum possesses anti-cholinergic properties, which help regulate hyperactive acetylcholine activities often observed in neurodegenerative conditions. These findings highlight the potential of pygeum extract as a therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases or to slow age-related cognitive decline, warranting further clinical investigation.

Beyond these effects, the antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of pygeum further position pygeum as a versatile plant extract for overall health. Research shows that pygeum extract neutralises free radicals to reduce oxidative stress and reduces inflammatory cytokines to modulate immune responses, contributing to its protective effects against various chronic inflammatory conditions, including BPH, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Most importantly, pygeum extract is deemed non-toxic and suitable for long-term use for humans in the 2016 final assessment report from the European Medicines Agency.

Cover Image attribution: SAplants, Prunus africana 1DS-II 0042, CC BY-SA 4.0