Phytosterols in supplements containing Serenoa repens: an example of variability of active principles in commercial plant based products

Abstract

Phytosterols are one of the bioactive components responsible for the beneficial effects of Serenoa repens in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. The aim of this study was to verify the actual variability of the phytosterols content in supplements containing serenoa, in order to provide useful elements to check the effectiveness of these preparations. The amount of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were determined by gas-chromatography in commercial raw materials and supplements containing serenoa in association or not with other botanicals. The experimental data were used to calculate amounts of phytosterols for recommended daily dose. The overall results of this study show an extreme variability in the content and also in the amounts per daily dose of phytosterols of the examined supplements (both mono/multicomponents). These data confirm that the characterization of serenoa based supplements is insufficient to ensure comparable effects between different products and therefore can explain the conflicting results of clinical trials.

Quality Assessment of Herbal Medicinal Products in Benign Prostate Hypertrophy: Chemical Markers and Fingerprint Analysis

“…The percentage of free fatty acids and their esters and glycerides was 40%, steroids 32%, aldehydes 11%, hydrocarbons 3.2% and triterpenes 0.16%. Betasitosterol was not found neither Campesterol or Stigmasterol, which are the predominent phytosterols in Serenoa repens 38 . Also, phytosterols of type ∆7 were not seen, which are characteristic of pumpkin seeds and oil, and constitute more than 80% of the total sterols 39 .…”

Terapias complementarias para el control de los síntomas del tracto urinario inferior masculino: revisión sistemática

“…A pesar de que hay evidencia favorable de que puede ser utilizado, su aplicabilidad y efectividad en la práctica clínica aún son cuestionables (15) . En parte, la gran variabilidad en la concentración y biodisponibilidad de los componentes, dependiendo del laboratorio responsable de producir el extracto, puede explicar la dificultad para definir su efectividad (41) . Además, la falta de estandarización de las concentraciones dificulta establecer comparaciones entre ensayos clínicos (42) .…”

Terapias complementares no controle de sintomas do trato urinário inferior masculino: revisão sistemática

“…Em parte, a grande variabilidade na concentração e biodisponibilidade dos componentes, a depender do laboratório responsável pela produção do extrato, podem justificar a dificuldade em definir sua efetividade (41) . Além disso, a ausência de padronização das concentrações dificulta o estabelecimento de comparações entre os ensaios clínicos (42) .…”