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Perennial ryegrass

Ryegrass, also known as lolch, is a plant whose pollen is used in the production of medicine. Ryegrass pollen extract (Cernilton) is a registered pharmaceutical product in Europe, Japan, Korea and Argentina. Ryegrass* is used for prostate diseases such as benign prostate enlargement, prostate pain and persistent inflammation of the prostate.

How does ryegrass work?

Ryegrass reduces inflammatory swelling by interacting with certain chemicals. It may also slow prostate cancer cell growth.

How effective is ryegrass?

Ryegrass may be effective for symptoms of prostate enlargement including increased urinary frequency, increased nocturnal urination, constant urination, painful urination and reduced urine flow rate. Although ryegrass extract appears to improve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, there are mixed study results as to whether it could actually affect the size of the prostate. However, ryegrass appears to work as well as Pygeum and Paraprost, a Japanese prostate remedy that contains L-glutamic acid, L-alanine and aminoacetic acid. There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of ryegrass for prostate swelling and pain or when used to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate. New research suggests that ryegrass pollen extract may help with these conditions. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of ryegrass in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Ryegrass appears to be safe and harmless for most people. However, it can cause side effects such as stomach distention, heartburn and nausea.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of ryegrass during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid ryegrass.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between ryegrass and medicines or supplements.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Oral

  • For benign prostatic hyperplasia: 126 mg of a specific ryegrass pollen extract, three times daily.

References

  1. Buck AC, Cox R, Rees RW, et al. Treatment of outflow tract obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia with the pollen extract, cernilton. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Urol 1990;66:398-404.
  2. Buck AC, Rees RW, Ebeling L. Treatment of chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia with pollen extract. Br J Urol 1989;64:496-9.
  3. Dutkiewicz S. Usefulness of Cernilton in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Int Urol Nephrol 1996;28:49-53.
  4. Habib FK, Ross M, Lewenstein A, et al. Identification of a prostate inhibitory substance in a pollen extract. Prostate 1995;26:133-9.
  5. Loschen G, Ebeling L. [Inhibition of arachidonic acid cascade by extract of rye pollen]. Arzneimittelforschung 1991;41:162-7.
  6. Lowe FC, Dreikorn K, Borkowski A, et al. Review of recent placebo-controlled trials utilizing phytotherapeutic agents for treatment of BPH. Prostate 1998;37:187-93.
  7. Lowe FC, Ku JC. Phytotherapy in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a critical review. Urol 1996;48:12-20.
  8. MacDonald R, Ishani A, Rutks I, Wilt TJ. A systematic review of Cernilton for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. BJU Int 2000;85:836-41.
  9. Maekawa M, Kishimoto T, Yasumoto R, et al [Clinical evaluation of Cernilton on benign prostatic hypertrophy--a multiple center double-blind study with Paraprost]. Hinyokika Kiyo 1990;36:495-516.
  10. Rugendorff EW, Weidner W, Ebeling L, Buck AC. Results of treatment with pollen extract (Cernilton N) in chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia. Br J Urol 1993;71:433-8.
  11. Yasumoto R, Kawanishi H, Tsujino T, et al. Clinical evaluation of long-term treatment using cernitin pollen extract in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Clin Ther 1995;17:82-7.