Saw palmetto is native to and grows naturally only in Florida and the vicinity in the US. Native Americans, such as Seminole Indians recognized saw palmetto fruits as a food despite their pungent taste, and also as a medicine. Native Americans ate saw palmetto fruits for at least 12,000 years. The native Floridians prepared infusions of Saw palmetto berries to treat stomachache and dysentery, and used the fruit for diuretic and sexual tonic.The fruits of saw palmetto have been shown in vitro to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and aromatase, which has significant implications in the prostate enlargement. 5-alpha-reductase is responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), signalling prostate gland to produce more testosterone by growing larger. Besides the prevention of BPH, saw pallmeto shows efficacy in erection and improvement of sexual function. Inhibitory effect of saw palmmetto on 5-alpha-reductase also suggests that saw palmetto could be helpful to ward off hair loss, since DHT influences the hair follicle cells to degenerate. |
