Plant Profile

Saw Palmetto

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026

Serenoa repens

Family: Arecaceae · Parts used: Fruit (berry) · Also known as: Sabal, Dwarf palmetto

Common names in 12 European languages →

The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 3 traditional / indicated uses, with 16 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Low, clump-forming fan-palm shrub (Arecaceae), usually with a creeping or short, often prostrate trunk. Leaves are fan-shaped (palmate) on long, spiny-edged stalks. Small, creamy-white flowers are borne in branched clusters among the leaves, followed by large, dark blue-black, olive-sized berries - the part used.^[12]

Height: Low, spreading; trunk often prostrate or short

Habit: Low, clump-forming fan-palm shrub

Leaves: Fan-shaped (palmate), on long, spiny-edged stalks

Flowers: Small, creamy-white, in branched clusters among the leaves

Stem: Creeping or short, often prostrate trunk

Root: Fibrous root system

Fruit: Large, dark blue-black, olive-sized berries

Flowering Period: Spring (April-June); berries ripen late summer to autumn

Habitat & Distribution

Native to the south-eastern United States (particularly Florida and the Gulf Coast), a dominant understorey palm of coastal pine flatwoods, scrub and sandy coastal habitats.^[12]

Harvesting

Ripe berries are hand-harvested in late summer/autumn once they turn dark blue-black, then dried. Wild harvest is regulated in parts of the plant's native range given conservation concerns about overharvesting.^[12]

Parts: Fruit (berry)

Season: Late summer to autumn

Key Constituents

Fatty acids and phytosterols (beta-sitosterol)^[12]

The lipid/sterol fraction proposed to act on the prostate.

Phytosterols

Flavonoids^[12]

Antioxidant constituents of the berry.

Flavonoids

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Prostate support^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]}Strong · 10/10

Lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - widely used, but high-quality Cochrane evidence shows it is NOT better than placebo, even at double and triple doses

Evidence: 10

Label: Prostate support

more plants for prostate support →detailed sources →

Urinary support^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13]}Strong · 10/10

General urinary support (traditional); Lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - widely used, but high-quality Cochrane evidence shows it is NOT better than placebo, even at double and triple doses

Evidence: 10

Label: Urinary support

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^{[12, 13]}Good · 8/10

Lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - widely used, but high-quality Cochrane evidence shows it is NOT better than placebo, even at double and triple doses

Evidence: 8

Label: Urinary tract infection (UTI)

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Saw palmetto berries have a long Native American food and medicinal tradition, and were adopted into 19th- and 20th-century American and European phytotherapy as a tonic for the urinary and reproductive systems. The modern, most-studied use is for lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), though high-quality Cochrane evidence for pooled mixed extracts shows no benefit over placebo, while some meta-analyses of a specific standardised hexanic extract report symptom benefit.^{[12, 13]}

Preparations

Standardised lipophilic (hexanic) extract (capsule)^{[1, 2]}

The most-studied commercial form (e.g. Permixon).

Dosage

Standardised extract^{[12, 13]}

Clinical trials have most often used around 160 mg of standardised extract twice daily (320 mg/day total). Educational reference only, not a prescription; any prostate or urinary symptom should be medically assessed first, and saw palmetto should not replace proven treatment given uncertain efficacy evidence.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[12, 13]}Caution

Generally well tolerated; mild gastrointestinal upset is the most common effect. BPH must be medically diagnosed (to exclude prostate cancer), and because the best evidence does not show benefit, saw palmetto should not replace proven treatment.

Safety note^[12]Caution

Has mild anti-androgen and antiplatelet effects, so use caution with anticoagulant medicines and before surgery; avoid in pregnancy (hormonal activity).

Herb-Drug Interactions

Anticoagulants Antiplatelets^[14]Caution

Mechanism: Saw palmetto has been linked to prolonged bleeding time, and a case of severe intraoperative haemorrhage was reported in a patient taking it; combining it with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs may add to bleeding risk, so stop it before surgery.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-03

Harvest Readiness

^{[15, 16]}

Part: fruit

Signals: Pick the olive-sized drupes once they have darkened to the ripe colour: deep, shiny blue-black to reddish-black.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: Fruit color: deep, shiny blue-black

Independent Confirmation: Wikipedia (REF-3387) independently gives the same ripe-fruit stage for Serenoa repens - 'The fruit is a large reddish-black drupe and is an important food source for wildlife and historically for humans' - agreeing with the UF/IFAS factsheet that ripeness is read from the darkened fruit colour.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: UF/IFAS Extension EDIS factsheet FPS-547 (REF-3386) plus Wikipedia (REF-3387) as a genuinely independent second prism; both give the ripe fruit colour as the observable stage, on a plant that flowers in spring. Supersedes the earlier dead end (PFAF gave no fruit timing). NOTE for gatherers: wild harvest of saw palmetto berries is legally regulated in Florida - a permit and the landowner's written permission are required, and harvest on public land is prohibited.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Vela-Navarrete, R., Alcaraz, A., Rodriguez-Antolin, A., Minana Lopez, B., Fernandez-Gomez, J.M. and others (2018) 'Efficacy and safety of a hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH): systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies', BJU International, 122(6), pp. 1049--1065. doi:10.1111/bju.14362 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.14362
Novara, G., Giannarini, G., Alcaraz, A., Cozar-Olmo, J.M., Descazeaud, A., Montorsi, F. and Ficarra, V (2016) 'Efficacy and Safety of Hexanic Lipidosterolic Extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) in the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials', European Urology Focus, 2(5), pp. 553--561. doi:10.1016/j.euf.2016.04.002 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2016.04.002
Franco, J.V., Trivisonno, L., Sgarbossa, N.J., Alvez, G.A., Fieiras, C., Escobar Liquitay, C.M. and Jung, J.H (2023) 'Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6(6), pp. CD001423. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001423.pub4 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001423.pub4
Ooi, S.L. and Pak, S.C (2017) 'Serenoa repens for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Current Evidence and Its Clinical Implications in Naturopathic Medicine', Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(8), pp. 599-606. doi:10.1089/acm.2016.0302 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0302
Cai, T., Cui, Y., Yu, S., Li, Q., Zhou, Z. and Gao, Z (2020) 'Comparison of Serenoa repens With Tamsulosin in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', American Journal of Men's Health, 14(2), pp. 1557988320905407. doi:10.1177/1557988320905407 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320905407
Trivisonno, L.F., Sgarbossa, N., Alvez, G.A., Fieiras, C., Escobar Liquitay, C.M., Jung, J.H. and Franco, J.V.A (2021) 'Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Investigative and Clinical Urology, 62(5), pp. 520-534. doi:10.4111/icu.20210254 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.4111/icu.20210254
Kwon, Y (2019) 'Use of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia', Food Science and Biotechnology, 28(6), pp. 1599-1606. doi:10.1007/s10068-019-00605-9 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-019-00605-9
MacDonald, R., Tacklind, J.W., Rutks, I. and Wilt, T.J (2012) 'Serenoa repens monotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): an updated Cochrane systematic review', BJU International, 109(12), pp. 1756-1761. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11172.x Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11172.x
Minutoli, L., Bitto, A., Squadrito, F., Marini, H., Irrera, N., Morgia, G., Passantino, A. and Altavilla, D (2013) 'Serenoa Repens, lycopene and selenium: a triple therapeutic approach to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia', Current Medicinal Chemistry, 20(10), pp. 1306-1312. doi:10.2174/0929867311320100007 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867311320100007
Boyle, P., Robertson, C., Lowe, F. and Roehrborn, C (2004) 'Updated meta-analysis of clinical trials of Serenoa repens extract in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia', BJU International, 93(6), pp. 751-756. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2003.04735.x Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2003.04735.x
Willetts, K.E., Clements, M.S., Champion, S., Ehsman, S. and Eden, J.A (2003) 'Serenoa repens extract for benign prostate hyperplasia: a randomized controlled trial', BJU International, 92(3), pp. 267-270. doi:10.1046/j.1464-410x.2003.04316.x Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1464-410x.2003.04316.x
Keehn, A. and Lowe, F.C (2015) 'Complementary and alternative medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia', The Canadian Journal of Urology. Randomized trial
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Complementary%20and%20alternative%20medications%20for%20benign%20prostatic%20hyperplasia
Tacklind, J., Macdonald, R., Rutks, I., Stanke, J.U. and Wilt, T.J (2012) 'Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001423.pub3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001423.pub3
Cheema, P., El-Mefty, O. and Jazieh, A.R (2001) 'Intraoperative haemorrhage associated with the use of extract of Saw Palmetto herb: a case report and review of literature', Journal of Internal Medicine, 250(2), pp. 167-169. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00851.x Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00851.x
Gilman, Edward F. and Watson, Dennis G 'Serenoa repens: Saw Palmetto (FPS-547)', EDIS. Available at: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP547 Traditional / reference
https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP547
Wikipedia contributors 'Serenoa'. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenoa Traditional / reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenoa

Selected studies & references

ReviewSerenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement source↗ (2023)

ReviewSerenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement: A systematic review and meta-analysis source↗ (2021)

ReviewComparison of Serenoa repens With Tamsulosin in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis source↗ (2020)

ReviewUse of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia source↗ (2019)

ReviewEfficacy and safety of a hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH): systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies source↗ (2018)

ReviewSerenoa repens for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Current Evidence and Its Clinical Implications in Naturopathic Medicine source↗ (2017)

ReviewEfficacy and Safety of Hexanic Lipidosterolic Extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) in the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials source↗ (2016)

ReviewSerenoa Repens, lycopene and selenium: a triple therapeutic approach to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia source↗ (2013)

All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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