PYGEUM - PRUNUS AFRICANA

Date

June 26, 2026

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information

References: Proper name: USDA 2025; Common names: USDA 2025; Godfrey et al. 2010; Source information: Godfrey et al. 2010; Mills and Bone 2005.

Route of administration

Oral

Dosage form(s)

This monograph excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.

Acceptable dosage forms for oral use are indicated in the dosage form drop-down list of the web-based Product Licence Application form for Compendial applications.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

Standardized extracts

Helps reduce the urologic symptoms (such as weak urine flow, incomplete voiding, frequent daytime and nighttime urination) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (Wilt et al. 2002; Ishani et al. 2000; Chatelain et al. 1999; Breza et al. 1998; Carani et al. 1991; Barlet et al. 1990).

Non-standardized preparations

No claim (safety only).

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Standardized extracts making a claim for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Adult Males 18 years and older

Non-standardized preparations

Adults 18 years and older

Quantity(ies)

Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Methods of preparation: Standardized extracts

75 - 200 milligrams of extract per day, standardized to 12-14% of phytosterols (Wilt et al. 2002; Ishani et al. 2000; Chatelain et al. 1999; Breza et al. 1998; Carani et al. 1991; Barlet et al. 1990).

No claim (safety only)

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract¹, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)

Not to exceed 4 grams of dried stem bark and/or trunk bark, per day.²

Notes

• ¹Solvents allowed for the method of preparation “Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract)” as part of this monograph are ethanol and/or water only.
• ²Maximum daily dose of the crude material is based on a conservative extrapolation of the dose supported in the available evidence.

Direction(s) for use

No statement required.

Duration(s) of use

No statement required.

Risk information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

Standardized extracts making a claim for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (adult males)

• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use to exclude a diagnosis of prostate cancer (Goldman and Ausiello 2004).

Non-standardized preparations for adults (i.e., including women) (safety only)

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Contraindication(s)

No statement required.

Known adverse reaction(s)

No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural Health Products Regulations.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.
• Please note that this organism, one of its parts, or the organism or part from which this ingredient is derived, is considered at risk and is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Consult the following link for more details: https://cites.org/eng/disc/text.php

EXAMPLE OF PRODUCT FACTS:

Consult the Guidance Document, Labelling of Natural Health Products for more details.

References cited

• Barlet A, Albrecht J, Aubert A, Fischer M, Grof F, Grothuesmann HG, Masson JC, Mazeman E, Mermon R, Reichelt H. Efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the medical therapy of urination disorders due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: evaluation of objective and subjective parameters. A placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter study. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrrift 1990;102(22):667-673.
• Breza J, Dzurny O, Borowka A, Hanus T, Petrik R, Blane G, Chadha-Boreham H. Efficacy and acceptability of tadenan (Pygeum africanum extract) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a multicentre trial in central Europe. Current Medical Research and Opinion 1998;14(3):127-139.
• Carani C, Salvioli V, Scuteri A, Borelli A, Baldini A, Granata AR, Marrama P. Urological and sexual evaluation of treatment of benign prostatic disease using Pygeum africanum at high doses. Archivio italiano di urologia, nefrologia, andrologia 1991;63(3):341-345.
• Chatelain C, Autet W, Brackman F. Comparison of once and twice daily dosage forms of Pygeum africanum extract in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized, double-blind study, with long-term open label extension. Urology 1999;54(3):473-478.
• Godfrey A, Saunders PR, with Barlow K, Gilbert C, Gowan M, Smith F. Principles and Practices of Naturopathic Botanical Medicine. Volume 1: Botanical Medicine Monographs. Toronto (ON): CCNM Press; 2010.
• Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 22^nd edition. Philadelphia (PA): Saunders; 2004.
• Ishani A, MacDonald R, Nelson D, Rutks I, Wilt TJ. Pygeum africanum for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis. American Journal of Medicine 2000;109: 654-666.
• Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.
• USDA 2025: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) – Global. U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. [Accessed 2026 June 1]. Available from: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch
• Wilt T, Ishani A, MacDonald R, Rutks I, Stark G. Pygeum africanum for benign prostatic hyperplasia (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002;(1):CD001044.

References reviewed

• Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 4^th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2010.
• Kadu C, Parich A, Schueler S, Konrad H, Muluvi G, Eyog-Matig O, Muchugi A, Williams V, Ramamonjisoa L, Kapinga C, Foahom B, Katsvanga C, Hafashimana D, Obama C, Vinceti B, Schumacher R, Geburek T. Bioactive constituents in Prunus africana: Geographical variation throughout Africa and associations with environmental and genetic parameters. Phytochemistry 2012;83:70-78.

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