saw palmetto
Meaning of saw palmetto: Saw palmetto is an herbal supplement derived from a native palm's berries, widely used for urinary symptoms of prostate enlargement despite inconsistent trial evidence.
Definition of saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is a small, fan leaved palm native to the southeastern United States, formally named Serenoa repens. Extracts made from its dark berries are sold as a dietary supplement, most often marketed to ease urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The extract is thought to act on hormones and inflammation involved in prostate tissue growth, though the exact mechanism is not fully established. It is taken as capsules, tablets, or liquid extract rather than as the whole berry.
Because saw palmetto is regulated as a dietary supplement rather than a prescription medication, its manufacture and marketing are held to different standards than an approved drug, and clinical trial results on its effectiveness for urinary symptoms have been inconsistent.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient reported taking a saw palmetto supplement for urinary symptoms related to prostate enlargement.
Good to know
Saw palmetto is frequently used alongside prescription medications for the same urinary symptoms, though as a supplement it is not subject to the same manufacturing and efficacy standards as an approved drug.