Pruni africani cortex

Pruni africani cortex, also called Pygei africani cortex or African plum tree bark, is a drug made from the whole or cut, dried bark of the African plum tree.

The drug is used medicinally for the treatment of lower urinary tract disorders, especially benign prostatic syndrome.
Since preparations containing African plum tree bark only gained importance in EU countries after the Commission E monographs were compiled, there is no Commission E monograph available, but there is one from ESCOP. Quality defined in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: urinary tract complaints in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
ESCOP monograph: symptomatic treatment of micturition complaints in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) stage I and II (according to Alken) or stage II and III (according to Vahlensieck) such as painful and frequent urination, nocturnal urgency and urinary retention.
Commission E: no monograph for African Plum Tree Bark.

African plum tree bark contains steroids(sitosterol) phenolic and terpene acids such as oleanolic acid, tannins, phytosterols and N-butylbenzoesulfonamide.

Extracts of African plum tree bark have anti-inflammatory, anti-germinative and antiandrogenic effects.

Pruni africani cortex is used for the symptomatic treatment of benign prostate enlargement (n. ESCOP: benign prostate syndrome grade I-II according to Alken).

The daily dose is 100 to 200 mg of a lipophilic extract.

Rarely: indigestion (nausea, constipation) or diarrhoea.

Allergy to one of the ingredients, children and adolescents under 18 years of age, no data for pregnancy and gestation.

There are no known interactions with other drugs.

As currently (2016) no pygeum preparations are available in Germany, preparations with a prescription can be ordered in Switzerland, as they are officially approved there.

1. Schilcher H (216) In: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag München, pp. 252 f.
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/plum-tree--african.php.
3. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-prunus-africana-hook-f-kalkm-cortex_en.pdf