Phytotherapy of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. A Minireview

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting older men, with an incidence that is age‐dependent. Histological BPH, which typically develops after the age of 40 years, ranges in prevalence from >50% at 60 years to as high as 90% by 85 years of age. Typical symptoms include increased frequency of urination, nocturia, urgency, hesitancy, and weak urine stream. Conventional medicines used for the treatment of BPH include alpha blockers and 5‐alpha reductase inhibitors. This articles review the mode of action, the efficacy, and the safety, including herb‐drug interactions of the most common botanicals (Serenoa repens, Pygeum africanum, Urtica dioica, and Cucurbita pepo) and nutraceuticals (isoflavones, lycopene, selenium, and β‐Sitosterol) in controlling the lower urinary tract symptoms associated to BPH. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.