Saw palmetto is one of the main ingredients in FlameEz-Prostate. The Saw palmetto plant is a member of the fan palm family that is native to the southeastern United States. Saw palmetto berries were a staple food among Native Americans and have long been used to treat prostate troubles. Saw palmetto berries can increase urine flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve muscle spasms. They were also used to treat digestive problems and intestinal disease. Early in the 20th century, Saw palmetto was listed in the US Pharmacopoeia as an effective remedy for bladder and urinary tract inflammation, breast disorders, bronchitis, laryngitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Saw palmetto's main active ingredients are fatty acids. The berries also contain high molecular weight polysaccharides, which are usually associated with anti-inflammatory or immune-stimulant effects. The sterol components act similarly to estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, depending on whether the herb is taken by a man or a woman. Other constituents include small quantities of polyphenols, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, steroids, volatile oils, and tannins. The Saw palmetto berry has high content of phosphorus, zinc, chromium, crude fibre, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, silicon, and thiamine.

In animal and laboratory studies, Saw palmetto has been shown to:

• Increase the breakdown of DHT and prevent DHT  binding to androgen receptors*
• Inhibit testosterone action on the prostate*
• Inhibit cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways that produce prostaglandin E2 and leukotrienes*
• Stimulate immune response*
• Inhibit androgen and estrogen receptor activity and help to balance hormones*
• Possess anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activity*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

References (for abstracts and additional references, click here):

1. Shi R.et al. Effect of saw palmetto soft gel capsule on lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized trial in Shanghai, China. Journal of Urology. 179(2):610-5, 2008
2. Yang Y. et al. Saw Palmetto induces growth arrest and apoptosis of androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells via inactivation of STAT 3 and androgen receptor signaling. International Journal of Oncology. 31(3):593-600, 2007
3. Sorenson WR. Sullivan D. Determination of campesterol, stigmasterol, and beta-sitosterol in saw palmetto raw materials and dietary supplements by gas chromatography: collaborative study. Journal of AOAC International. 90(3):670-8, 2007
4. Wadsworth TL. et al. Effects of dietary saw palmetto on the prostate of transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate model (TRAMP). Prostate. 67(6):661-73, 2007
5. Ulbricht C. et al. Evidence-based systematic review of saw palmetto by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. [Review] [100 refs] Journal Of The Society For Integrative Oncology. 4(4):170-86, 2006.
6. Bonnar-Pizzorno RM. Littman AJ. Kestin M. White E. Saw palmetto supplement use and prostate cancer risk. Nutrition & Cancer. 55(1):21-7, 2006
7. Nickel JC. The overlapping lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. [Review] [38 refs] Current Opinion in Urology. 16(1):5-10, 2006