special subjects
Saw Palmetto
Introduction
Saw palmetto(Serenoa repens,Serenoa serrulata) berries contain the plant’s active ingredients. The active ingredients, thought to be fatty acids, seem to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, thus opposing the conversion oftestosteroneto dihydrotestosterone. The berries can be used to make a tea, or they can be extracted into tablets, capsules, or a liquid preparation. Most formulations evaluated in clinical studies are hexane extracts ofsaw palmettoberries, which are 80 to 90% essential fatty acids and phytosterols. (See also Overview of Dietary Supplements and 