[Phytotherapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Current evidence-based evaluation].

Despite its popularity as a medication in various European countries or as a nutritional supplement in the United States, the role of plant extracts for the treatment of LUTS due to BPH remains controversial. Only a few randomized clinical trials that meet standard criteria of evidence-based medicine but with relatively short follow-up times and some meta-analyses mainly regarding Serenoa repens and Pygeum Africanum as well as more recent studies on pumpkin seeds have shown clinical effects and good tolerability. To better judge the therapeutic potential of these plant extracts, additional randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials with sufficient follow-up are needed.