Effect of Saw Palmetto Supplements on Androgen-Sensitive LNCaP Human Prostate Cancer Cell Number and Syrian Hamster Flank Organ Growth
January 2016
in “
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine
”
TLDR Saw palmetto supplements may reduce prostate cancer cell growth without being toxic.
The study investigated the effects of saw palmetto supplements (SPS) on androgen-sensitive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells and Syrian hamster flank organ growth. High medium-chain fatty acids-low phytosterols (HMLP) SPS significantly decreased LNCaP cell number at concentrations ≥750 nM without inducing cytotoxicity. In Syrian hamsters, SPS treatments caused a notable but nonsignificant reduction in testosterone-treated flank organ growth compared to controls, suggesting that SPS may inhibit 5α-reductase. The study involved 3 replicates for cell culture experiments and 4-6 hamsters per group for animal studies. The study concluded that there was no significant difference in the efficacy of SPS with different nutrient profiles in inhibiting androgen-sensitive cell growth and impacting flank organ growth, indicating the need for further research.
