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Pygeum
The African plum, Prunus africana or Pygeum africanum, is an evergreen tree native to the highland forests of central and southern Africa. It is commonly referred to as pygeum.
Uses and Benefits:
A powdered bark extract of pygeum, especially popular in France and Italy since the late 1960s, is commonly used to relieve symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).The powdered bark was traditionally mixed into a milk suspension and drunk to to relieve urinary problems. Pygeum has also been used historically to relieve fever, inflammation, gastrointestinal upset, and kidney disease.
Pharmacology:
The exact chemicals and their mechanism of action responsible for the observed in vivo effects of pygeum remain unknown. The bark contains pentacyclic terpenes, ferulic esters of long-chain fatty acids such as ndocosanol, and phytos