Saw Palmetto Extract has been shown to be of significant value in prostate health, with clinical trials showing that daily consumption of 320mg of the standardized extract (85-95% fatty acids) can reduce the International Prostate Symptom score (IPSS) by 37% and reduce nighttime urination by 2.3 times per day. According to a meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Urology in 2023, after 6 months of continuous administration, patients’ peak urine flow rate (Qmax) was increased by 28% and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were decreased by 41%, similar to the drug finasteride, but side effect frequency was only 1/5 of the latter (4.2% vs. 21%).
In hair loss treatment studies, Saw Palmetto Extract prevented hair follicle miniaturization by 62% by inhibiting 5α-reductase activity (IC50 value 1.2μg/mL). Shiseido Japan’s 2022 study illustrated that hair growth serum with the use of 0.5% serrated palm extract promoted hair density increase by 19.3/cm² after a period of application of 24 weeks, while scalp irritation testing indicated an erythematous index (EI) of merely 0.8, substantially less than for Minoxidil at 3.5. As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), its treatment for androgenic alopecia cost-effectiveness ratio is 1:5.7 (18vs. monthly cost 18vs. Hair transplant 2,500), patient compliance increased by 73%.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects were also significant. In vitro tests verified that if the content of lauric acid in Saw Palmetto Extract was ≥12%, the expression of IL-6 inflammatory factor in prostate cells could be decreased by 54%, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) could be elevated to 2.8 times of the control value. A 2021 study from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil indicated that a 3% extract gel topically applied could reduce the extent of UV-induced skin erythemata by 68%, and the antioxidant damage effect was greater than with vitamin E (72% compared with 58%).
Market consciousness continues to increase, with the global Saw Palmetto Extract market growing from $230 million in 2020 to $410 million by 2023 with a compound annual growth rate of 21%. Bionorica’s PROSTAGUTT® forte (160mg of extract/tablet) leads the European market for prostate wellness products with 31% market share and achieves a repeat purchasing rate of 89%. The first serrated palm extract drug approved by the China Food and Drug Administration in 2023, “Universal Tai Tablet”, phase III clinical trial showed its effective rate of treatment for chronic prostatitis was 82.6% compared with the antibiotic group, which was 64.3%.
From the viewpoint of environmental sustainability, the use of supercritical CO2 extraction technology can enhance sawtooth palm fruit utilization from 65% to 92% of regular ethanol extraction and reduce energy use per tonne of raw material by 48%. Florida palm plantations have brought down the land restoration period to 18 months through crop rotation, enhanced biomass production per unit area to 1.2 tons/ha, and minimized the threat of ecological harm by 87% compared to wild resource harvesting by traditional means, as per the US Department of Agriculture’s report for 2024.
But see also the role of uniform production – during a 2022 Health Canada spot-check, 23% of products being sold had fewer than 80% of the beta-sitosterol found in their labels, resulting in an altering potency rate of ±35%. European Pharmacopoeia (EP) mandates that the fatty acid profile of premium Saw Palmetto Extract must contain ≥30% oleic acid and ≥28% palmetto acid, while the risk of contamination by heavy metal lead and other more than impurities in lower quality products is 15%, thus it is very important to choose GMP certified manufacturers.