Prunus africana

Prunus africana (African cherry / Pygeum) is utilized primarily for its bark extract rather than as a food source, so a conventional macronutrient profile (calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat per 100 g of edible fruit/seed) is not well-characterized in standard food-composition databases. The plant's value is overwhelmingly phytochemical/medicinal. Key bioactive compounds identified in the stem bark include: Phytosterols – β-sitosterol (up to ~14–18% of lipophilic bark extract), β-sitostenone, and campesterol, which are implicated in anti-inflammatory and anti-androgenic activity relevant to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); Pentacyclic triterpenes – ursolic acid (~2–6% of dried bark), oleanolic acid (~1–3%), and crataegolic acid, which contribute to anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic effects; Ferulic acid esters – n-docosanol and n-tetracosanol esters of ferulic acid (collectively ~0.5–1.5% of lipophilic extract), considered key anti-prolactin and cholesterol-lowering constituents; Tannins – proanthocyanidins and hydrolyzable tannins (approximately 10–15% of aqueous bark extract), responsible for astringent, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity; Long-chain fatty acids – lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids present in the lipid-soluble fraction; Phytol and related diterpenes – minor amounts contributing to antioxidant capacity. Minerals (reported from bark ash analyses): calcium (~1,200–1,800 mg/100 g dry bark), potassium (~800–1,400 mg/100 g), magnesium (~300–500 mg/100 g), iron (~15–40 mg/100 g), zinc (~3–8 mg/100 g), and manganese (~5–15 mg/100 g), though these figures reflect bark tissue and are not directly translatable to bioavailable dietary intake. Vitamins are not present in pharmacologically significant amounts in the bark. Fiber: bark material is predominantly lignocellulosic (~40–55% crude fiber), but this is not consumed as dietary fiber in practice. Bioavailability notes: Standardized lipophilic bark extracts (typically standardized to ≥13% total sterols, as in the commercial product Tadenan®/Pygeum extract dosed at 50–100 mg twice daily) show moderate oral bioavailability of β-sitosterol (~5–10% absorption in humans, comparable to plant sterols from other sources). Ferulic acid esters require hydrolysis for absorption; their bioavailability is enhanced in lipid-based extract formulations. Tannins may reduce absorption of co-ingested minerals and proteins. Ursolic acid has low aqueous solubility and limited oral bioavailability (~6–8%), though nanoformulations are being explored to improve this. Overall, Prunus africana is not a nutritional food source but a phytopharmaceutical; its value lies in its concentrated bioactive terpenoid, sterol, and phenolic compound profile rather than macro- or micronutrient content.