Determination of the Potency of a Novel Saw Palmetto Supercritical CO2 Extract for 5α-Reductase Isoform II Inhibition Using a Cell-Free In Vitro Test System

    April 2016 in “ Research and reports in urology ”
    Dick Greenlaw, Pilar Pais, S Rull, Agusti Villar
    TLDR The new saw palmetto extract effectively inhibits an enzyme linked to prostate enlargement and may be as good as standard treatments.
    The study investigated the inhibitory potency of a novel saw palmetto supercritical CO2 extract (SPSE) on the 5α-reductase isoenzyme type II, which is linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The study found that SPSE inhibited the enzyme with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 3.58±0.05 μg/mL, demonstrating competitive binding to the enzyme's active site. When compared to finasteride, an approved 5α-reductase inhibitor, SPSE showed a favorable bioactivity profile, suggesting it could promote prostate health effectively. The results indicate that SPSE may be superior to other phytotherapeutic extracts and comparable to finasteride, which is used in standard therapy. The study suggests that further in vitro and clinical trials are needed to clarify the differences between SPEs and to determine appropriate patient selection for their use.
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