We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Reptiles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Pygeum Africanum?

By Jillian O Keeffe
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 8,961
Share

Also known as the African plum tree, or the Red Stinkwood, Pygeum africanum is a tree with proven medicinal value. The bark of the tree is the source of a medicine that can treat a condition called benign prostate hyperplasia in men, and scientists are also researching a possibility that it can help people with sexual dysfunction. Pygeum africanum is native to SubSaharan Africa, with a range from Cameroon across to Ethiopia and down to South Africa.

Pygeum africanum can grow as tall as about 148 feet (about 45 m), and can grow more than 3 feet (about 1 m) in a single year. Its natural range is the mountain forests of Africa, between 5900 feet to 7200 feet (about 1800-2200 m) above sea level. This tree prefers an environment with plenty of rain, and it is resistant to a median level of frost. In addition to its wild growth, the tree is also cultivated by humans as an ornamental plant. Another scientific name for the tree is Prunus africana.

The bark of the tree is a brown, gray or reddish color, and it has a distinctive cracked appearance. It grows small white flowers and a purple-red colored fruit that looks similar to a cherry, and the bark contains useful substances to medicine. As bark harvest intrinsically damages the tree, its use as a medicine may be detrimental to its population, and as of 2011, the tree is regarded as endangered.

Traditionally, African people crushed the bark of Pygeum africanum into a powder and administered it to people suffering difficulty with urination. Fevers, malaria and kidney problems were other conditions that the bark was used for. Conventional European medicine researched the effects of an extract of the bark on a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, which causes an enlargement of the prostate and prevents urine from flowing properly. The medicine was proven to work and is in use as a first-line treatment for the condition in certain areas of Europe.

Other areas of medicine that the bark may have applications in include sexual dysfunction. As of 2011, the research is incomplete, although as Pygeum africanum does appear to have a calming effect on inflammation, this could improve dysfunction that is caused by inflammation of an area of the reproductive tract. Although scientific studies do not prove definitively that the bark is effective to treat baldness in men, some herbal remedies contain it.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-pygeum-africanum.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.