Serenoa repens
Saw palmetto
Serenoa repens, commonly known as Saw Palmetto, is a perennial plant native to the southeastern United States. Highly valued in traditional and modern herbal medicine, its fatty acids and sterols are widely studied for supporting prostate health, managing urinary symptoms, and balancing hormonal levels in men naturally.
- Scientific name: Serenoa repens
- Family: Arecaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Serenoa repens, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement within the genus Serenoa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Arecales | WCVP |
| Family | Arecaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Serenoa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Serenoa repens, is recognized by several different names depending on the language. In Russian, it is called Сереноя, while in Spanish, it is referred to as Serenoa. In Hungarian, the common name is fűrészpálda, and in German, it is known as Sägepalme. Finally, in Japanese, the plant is called ノコギリヤシ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Сереноя | Wikidata |
| es | Serenoa | Wikidata |
| hu | fűrészpálma | Wikidata |
| de | Sägepalme | Wikidata |
| ja | ノコギリヤシ | Wikidata |
| lt | Gulsčioji serenoja | Wikidata |
| ar | بلميط منشاري | Wikidata |
| ro | Saw palmetto | Wikidata |
| uk | Сереноа | Wikidata |
| th | ปาล์มเลื้อย | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found throughout the Southeastern United States. Its natural range includes the state of Alabama, where it grows in specific local habitats. It is also widely distributed across the landscape of Florida. Furthermore, populations of this species can be located within Georgia. Finally, its geographical presence extends into the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Alabama | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Florida | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Georgia | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Louisiana | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Mississippi | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | South Carolina | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Saw Palmetto, is valued in traditional medicine primarily for its reproductive structures. The medicinal components are derived from the fruits, which are small, dark, drupe-like structures that develop from the individual fruit of each flower. These fleshy, berry-like parts are harvested and processed to extract the bioactive compounds used to support prostate and urinary health.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Serenoa repens has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include beta-sitosterol, 1-monolaurin, 1-monomyristin, CO2, alcohols.
- Total chemicals
- 18
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| beta-sitosterol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-monolaurin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-monomyristin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CO2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alcohols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astaxanthin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| curcumin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| equol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hexane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Serenoa repens has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Serenoa repens has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 29 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hypertrophy, nocturia, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
- Total uses
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 29
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| benign prostatic hyperplasia | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| lower urinary tract symptoms | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| benign prostatic hypertrophy | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nocturia | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hirsutism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Prostate Cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acute pancreatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| androgenetic alopecia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hair loss | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |