Serenoa repens: The Scientific Basis for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia  Fouad K. Habib  European Urology Supplements  Volume 8, Issue 13, Pages 887-893 (December 2009) DOI: 10.1016/j.eursup.2009.11.005 Copyright © 2009 Terms and Conditions

Fig. 1 (a) Electron micrographs of untreated cocultured fibroblast cells. Micrograph A (×3888) shows characteristic elongated nuclei (N), high levels of Golgi apparatus (G), and cilia. Micrograph B (×86 400) shows a collagen fibril (F) produced by the cocultured fibroblast cells. (b) Electron micrographs of Serenoa repens extract (SrE)–treated (10μg/ml) cocultured fibroblast cells. Micrograph A (×15 984) shows general disruption of the cell cytoplasm and accumulation of lipids (L) in the cell. Micrograph B shows damage to the Golgi apparatus (G) in a fibroblast cell treated with SrE [5]. European Urology Supplements 2009 8, 887-893DOI: (10.1016/j.eursup.2009.11.005) Copyright © 2009 Terms and Conditions

Fig. 2 Effect of a 5-d treatment with Serenoa repens extract (SrE) (10μg/ml) on the activity of 5α-reductase types I (5α-R1) and II (5α-R2) in cocultured epithelial and fibroblast cells. Each data set is the result of three separate experiments. Results are expressed as means plus or minus standard error of the mean [5]. DHT=dihydrotestosterone. European Urology Supplements 2009 8, 887-893DOI: (10.1016/j.eursup.2009.11.005) Copyright © 2009 Terms and Conditions

Fig. 3 Effect of a 2-d treatment with Serenoa repens extract (10μg/ml) on the activity of 5α-reductase types I and II in primary cultured cells from prostate, skin, breast, epididymis, testes, and kidney [13]. European Urology Supplements 2009 8, 887-893DOI: (10.1016/j.eursup.2009.11.005) Copyright © 2009 Terms and Conditions

Fig. 4 Visual representation of the content of 14 brands of SrE, as determined by analysis [3]. FFA=free fatty acids. European Urology Supplements 2009 8, 887-893DOI: (10.1016/j.eursup.2009.11.005) Copyright © 2009 Terms and Conditions

Fig. 5 Schematic diagram showing some of the Serenoa repens extract (SrE) targets at the level of the prostate cell. DHT=dihydrotestosterone; EGF=epidermal growth factor; FGF=fibroblast growth factor. European Urology Supplements 2009 8, 887-893DOI: (10.1016/j.eursup.2009.11.005) Copyright © 2009 Terms and Conditions