Effects of saw palmetto extracts on prostate gland function in the rat

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is associated with many urinary symptoms that can severely diminish quality of life and can lead to complications including urinary tract infections and obstructive nephropathy. The cause behind BPH is not well understood. Extracts of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) are amongst the most widely used medicinal herbal preparations, used almost exclusively to alleviate urinary symptoms related to BPH. Given that little is known about the beneficial physiological role of saw palmetto as an alternative medication and which of the phytochemicals may be involved in improving the symptoms of BPH, this study investigated the effects of commercially available saw palmetto extracts on smooth muscle contractility in isolated preparations of rat prostate gland.