What is it used for?
Standardized extracts
Helps reduce the urologic symptoms (such as weak urine flow, incomplete voiding, frequent daytime and nighttime urination) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia [Source note 2].
Non-standardized preparations
No claim (safety only).
Who does this guide cover?
Standardized extracts making a claim for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Adult Males 18 years and older
Non-standardized preparations
Adults 18 years and older
How is it taken?
Oral
Which forms are covered?
this reference excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.
Quantities
Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Methods of preparation: Standardized extracts
75 - 200 milligrams of extract per day, standardized to 12-14% of phytosterols [Source note 3].
No claim (safety only)
Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract¹, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)
Not to exceed 4 grams of dried stem bark and/or trunk bark, per day.²
¹Solvents allowed for the method of preparation “Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract)” as part of this reference are ethanol and/or water only.
²Maximum daily dose of the crude material is based on a conservative extrapolation of the dose supported in the available evidence.
How is it used?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
How long is it used?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Warnings and precautions
Standardized extracts making a claim for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (adult males)
Ask a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.
Ask a healthcare professional before use to exclude a diagnosis of prostate cancer [Source note 4].
Non-standardized preparations for adults (i.e., including women) (safety only)
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
When should it be avoided?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Possible side effects
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Storage
Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the applicable product regulations.
Preparation details
Ingredient identity, preparation requirements, and other details that define the scope of this guide.
Ingredients and preparations
| Proper name(s) | Common name(s) | Source information / Source material(s) | Source information / Part(s) | Source information / Preparation(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prunus africana |
| Prunus africana |
| Dry |
References: Proper name: USDA 2025; Common names: USDA 2025; Godfrey et al. 2010; Source information: Godfrey et al. 2010; Mills and Bone 2005.
Other ingredients
Must be chosen from the current source ingredient database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.
Preparation and quality requirements
The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the source authority source’s product quality guidance.
The active ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the source ingredient database.
Please note that this organism, one of its parts, or the organism or part from which this ingredient is derived, is considered at risk and is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Consult the following link for more details: [Source note 5]
Guide change history
Updates to this SupplementSafety.org guide.
Minor updates
Updated guide wording, organization, and source presentation. Added our editorial change history.
Initial release
Initial SupplementSafety.org guide prepared from source reference material.
Validation: Not yet completed. Editorial updates do not constitute clinical validation.
Sources
Source information
This guide organizes source material about uses, preparations, amounts, and precautions. Read the conditions alongside each statement; the information may apply only to particular preparations or populations.
The source document includes supporting references. We have not independently summarized or assessed every cited study for this guide.
- Source document version
- June 26, 2026
- Source captured
- Aug 15, 2026
- Editorial work
- Editorial preparation. Independent clinical review has not been recorded for this guide.
Full citations are available through the link above. Verification is required to open them; reading this guide does not require verification.
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Explore our supplement–medication interaction checker. Its coverage and review status are shown with the results; a missing finding does not establish that a combination is safe.