Prunus africana bark collectors emerging from the forest in madagascar ian dawson. This tree is also sometimes called the african cherry tree, prunus africanum, or pygeum africanum. Unsustainable harvesting of prunus africana tree threatens. Pygeum bark gained popularity in europe in the 1700s but had been used long before that by south african tribes. Prunus africana an evergreen tree found in afromontane forestsis used in traditional medicine to cure benign prostate hyperplasia. The supplement is an extract that comes from the bark of an african tree known scientifically as prunus africana. Prunus africana, the wonder anticancer tree in uganda. Trade in prunus africana the tree known as pygeum or prunus africana is the only african variety of more than 200 species of prunus scattered around the world and the one used by pharmaceutical companies to manufacture a drug called tadenan used in treating prostate. This disorder is generally referred to as benign prostate hyperplasia bph, which affects more than 50% of men over the age of 50 in europe and north america icraf, 2000.
Structural distribution of wild prunus africana population in the kilumijim mountain forest. Prunus africana bark contains phytochemical compounds used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. It can be found at 9003,400 m 3,00010,000 ft above sea level. Originally two initial brandname products produced france, italy to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy bph, now are at least 40 brandname products using prunus africana bark. Antimicrobial effects have been linked to inhibition of il7 mrna expression the isolated compounds atraric acid and nbutylbenzenesulfonamide were identified as androgen receptor antagonists, which play an important role in the development of prostate diseases. Both the tree and the fruit see beneficial uses in african society. A wonder medicinal plant it belongs to the rosaceae family and it is also called the red stinkwood tree. The plant is native to the mountainous regions of subsaharan africa, african forest regions, central and south american mountains, and the gulf of guinea. Unsustainable harvesting of prunus africana tree threatens prostate treatment 28 march 2012 responding to the dwindling abundance of prunus africana in the wild, a tree listed as vulnerable to. Pygeum africanum is native to central america, south america, madagascar and nearby islands, and the. Benign prostatic hyperplasia bph is a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate prunus domestica bark contains three groups of active constituents. Pygeum africanum extract powder can clear bladder neck urethral obstruction, significantly improving urologic symptoms and flow measures. Pdf the potential use of prunus africana for the control.
Prunus africana has been used for genera tions in african traditional medicine to treat prostate can cer. The main stem is straight, with dark brown bark, cracking in a characteristic oblong pattern. Prunus africana has a widespread but fragmented distribution in africa, it is considered globally vulnerable and overexploitation is regarded as the main threat to the species. However, there is no information regarding the role of. Different bioactive constituents derived from bark extracts from 20 tree populations sampled throughout the species natural range in africa were studied by means of gcmsd. The trees many active ingredients have been the reason for its uses as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments. Prunus africana definition of prunus africana by medical. Pygeum africanum is one of the supplements whose focus is very narrow. Pygeum is an herbal supplement used to treat a number of illnesses, such as an enlarged prostate, acne, and sexual dysfunction. Traditional healers also use the bark in treatment of stomach ache and wound dressing, infusion of.
A member of the rosaceae family of trees, the prunus africana can grow quite large. European union herbal monograph on prunus africana. The bark of prunus africana may contain atranorin, atraric acid, betasitosterol and its esters, ferulic acid and its esters, and nbutylbenzene sulfonamide, compounds that have been shown to improve the conditions of benign prostatic hyperplasia, enlarged prostate. The genus prunus includes almonds, apricots, cherries, plumbs, peaches and nectarines. Rwenzori national parks have been discovered to have the highest concentration of the active ingredients needed for treating prostate cancer and other related health. Prunus africana is confined to evergreen forests from near the coast to the mist belt and montane forests in kwazulunatal, eastern cape, swaziland, mpumalanga, zimbabwe and tropical africa. Prostate cancer remains one of the major causes of death worldwide.
In darwin plant conservation manual for tropic ed by c. The genus name prunus is derived from the latin word which refers to the plum family and the scientific name prunus africana refers to the species of african origin. Pygeum africanum prunus africana african plum tree introduction pygeum africanum, a member of the rosaceae family, is an evergreen species found across the entire continent of africa at altitudes of 3,000 feet or higher. It is a geographically wide spread tree to forest habitats of the african continent.
Rwenzori national parks have been discovered to have the highest concentration of the active ingredients needed for treating prostate cancer and other related health problems compared to other tree species in the country. Prunus africana or pygeum is an evergreen tree native to the green yet forested regions of africa. Prunus africana is the only indigenous species in the rsa. Africa and madagascar, prunus africana was listed as a cites appendixii. Pygeum africanum prunus africana african plum tree. Prunus africana rapid inventory in 8 districts of uganda. Antibacterial and antioxidant studies of extracts from root. Prunus africana rosaceae intercostal pain, prostate hypertrophy, hair tonics 17,18. Prunus africana is a fastgrowing, much branched, evergreen tree with a spherical crown. An analytical scheme, involving liquidsolid extractions, saponifications, and. It occurs inwild in forests from 22 countries, majority in the eastern and southern africa region such as ethiopia, uganda, kenya, tanzania, zambia, malawi, mozambique, south africa, but also cameroon, nigeria, sao tome, angola etc. Pygeum africanum or prunus africana, commonly known as the african plum tree or pygeum, is an evergreen tree that belongs to the rose family rosaceae, which also houses cherries and plums.
Prunus africana, the african cherry, has a wide distribution in africa, occurring in montane regions of central and southern africa and on the islands of bioko, saotome, grande comore, and madagascar. Pygeum africanum, also simply called pygeum, is an extract made from the bark of the african plum tree. Pygeum also increases prostatic and seminal fluid secretions. An extract from the bark of pygeum africanum has been used in europe as a prevention and treatment of prostate disorders including benign prostatic hypertrophy bph. Prunus africana is a medium to large, handsome evergreen tree with a spreading crown of 10 to 20 m when mature. The extract from the bark of prunus africana is used for the modern treatment of prostate enlargement. It is also used for inflammation, kidney disease, urinary problems, malaria, stomachache, fever, and to increase sexual desire. The plant is called stinkwood because it has wood with an unpleasant odour. Dna damage with dcm twigs extract in micronucleus and comet assays without exogenous metabolic activation s9. It has blackishbrown bark, shining foliage and greenish or white flowers. African prune pygeum africanum prunus africana actions.
Pygeum africanum for benign prostatic hyperplasia request pdf. Ensuring the future of the pygeum tree prunus africana bioversity. Chemical comparison of prunus africana bark and pygeum. Acknowledgements i will specially want to thank the research team that worked on prunus africana that is. Rwenzori national parks have been discovered to have the highest concentration of the active ingredients needed for treating prostate cancer and other. It is also the only tall forest member of rosaceae rose family in south africa. In addition to prostate cancer, the bark extract of p.
An analytical scheme, involving liquidsolid extractions, saponifications, and lcapcims triple quadrupole analysis, was. It can become quite huge under frostfree conditions, but is usually mediumsized in gardens. In the world of nutritional supplements there are some products which have extremely specific purposes. Amf are involved in nutrient uptake, which may also affect plant growth and secondary metabolites composition. Pygeum is used for treating symptoms of enlarged prostate benign prostatic hyperplasia, bph and prostate cancer. Improves symptoms of bph and prostatic adenoma esp. It is mainly used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia bhp. It decreases nocturia by 19%, increases peak urine flow by 23%, and reduces residual urine volume by 24% in men with bph. It is an extract of the bittertasting bark of the prunus africana tree, found in central and southern african countries.
Later the extract of the bark became a popular form of taking this supplement. In view of the limited treatment options for patients with prostate cancer, preventive and treatment approaches based on natural compounds can play an integral role in tackling this disease. Indicationspecific dosing for prunus africana, pygeum. For example, prunus africana had a super effect in a study of 110 men with enlarged prostate that were given either herbal medicine or a dummy pill, as reported in the british journal of clinical pharmacology in 1984.
Misango lasto of kisoga trading centre farmers contact person no. Commercialization of prunus africana african cherry. Bark the african prune prunus africana pygeum africanum, also known as african plum, ironwood, stinkwood, pygeum or bitter almond, is a evergreen tree native to the mountainous regions of subsaharan africa zaire, cameroon. A process for preparing an extract of the bark of prunus africana suitable for the treatment of prostatic adenoma, comprising contacting finely ground bark of prunus africana with a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, an 80. Traditional uses include treatment of fever, malaria, wounds, stomach upset, kidney disease, and more. Pygeum is available under the following different brand names. Plants free fulltext effect of indigenous and introduced. Prunus africana medicinal uses potential uses and treatment. Prunus africana food and agriculture organization of the united. Prunus africana cortex consists of the dried bark of prunus africana hook. Efficacy of prunus domestica extract in bph full text view.
Since 1970, prunus africana bark harvest has shifted from subsistence use to largescale commercial use for international trade. Recent evidence supports the beneficial effects of plantderived phytochemicals as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents for. Interest in the species began in the 1700s when european travelers learned from. Largediameter trees have impressive, spreading crowns.
This it is a moderately fastgrowing tree which is sensitive to heavy frost, preferring areas where there is regular rain. The active ingredients in prunus africana are effective treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate gland hypertrophy enlarged prostate gland, ailments that affect about 60% of men over the age of 50, especially in europe and usa. Based on article 16d1, article 16f and article 16h of directive 200183ec as amended traditional use herbal substances binomial scientific name of the plant, including plant p art prunus africana hook f. It has been shown that this plant establishes association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi amf. Prunus africana is native to the montane tropical forests of subsaharan africa and madagascar.
Prunus africana is produced in some 21 subsaharan african countries but cameroon is the biggest exporter of prunus africana bark with annual average exports of 1500 tons of fresh bark during the 1980s and 2000 tons in the early 1990s cunningham et al, 2002. Currently all exports of prunus africana are subjected to a cites export permit to protect the tree from depletion in africa. The potential use of prunus africana for the control, treatment and management of common fungal and bacterial infections article pdf available in journal of medicinal plant research 411. The usa and some european countries have approved such medications including hypoxis rooperi 22, prunus africana 23, and of course the most famous and dominant herbal therapy for bph, serenoa. Pygeum antagonizes 5lipoxygenase metabolite production, and this action may contribute to its antiinflammatory effects. Phytosterol pygeum africanum regulates prostate cancer in. It was in the early 1970s that the discovery was made that chemical compounds from prunus africana bark chapter 5 were suitable for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, a disease causing noncancerous enlargement of the prostate, afflicting elderly men worldwide. In conclusion, prunus africana is a wonder medicinal plant species that has the potential to save the world from the current global deadly disease called prostate cancer. Pygeum africanum prunus africana or rosaceae is an african prune plum tree found in tropical africa. Pygeum africanum prunus africana african plum tree monograph. Prunus africana is an evergreen tree growing to 18 m 59ft by 18 m 59ft at a fast rate. Jun 01, 2015 found in the mountainous forests of africa, the bark of p.
Prunus africana has been used for generations in african traditional medicine to treat prostate cancer. It is a canopy tree 3040 m in height, and is the tallest member of. In the western world, an extract of prunus africana bark is most popularly used for benign prostate hyperplasia bph, or prostate enlargement. Pygeum africanum extract can restore the secretory activity of prostate epithelium. Pygeum africanum extract can be used for incontinence, urine retention, polyuria or frequent urination, dysuria. Sep 17, 2019 pygeum is used for treating symptoms of enlarged prostate benign prostatic hyperplasia, bph and prostate cancer. European union herbal monograph on prunus africana hook f. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Traditional healers also use the bark in treatment of stomach ache and wound dressing, infusion of leaves is. Found in the mountainous forests of africa, the bark of p.
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