Frequent trips to the bathroom and a persistent feeling of incomplete emptying after urination are typical symptoms that threaten the daily lives of men aged 50 and older.

Until recently, the domestic prostate health functional food market had been centered on the imported ingredient saw palmetto. However, national institutions and domestic researchers have recently begun developing new materials using Korean medicinal crops, presenting an alternative approach to prostate health management.

Chamdanggui-Astragalus Extract Complex, mechanism of inhibiting prostate enlargement identified

The “Chamdanggui-Astragalus Extract Complex (SHPro),” jointly developed by the Rural Development Administration’s National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in collaboration with domestic universities and companies, is a functional ingredient for prostate health made by combining 100% domestically produced Chamdanggui and Astragalus in an optimal ratio. According to preclinical (animal) studies published in the international journal Phytotherapy Research, administration of the complex to experimental rats with induced prostatic enlargement reduced prostate weight by about 39% compared with the control group.

The mechanism by which the complex inhibits prostate enlargement was also identified. In cell experiments, the complex was found to reduce levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), known as a major cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and suppress the expression of androgen receptors (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In addition, it was analyzed to induce apoptosis in abnormally proliferating prostate cells, thereby helping to control excessive growth of prostate tissue.

Symptom improvement confirmed in Severance Hospital clinical trial… sexual function indicators also improved

Efficacy was also confirmed in human clinical trials. The results of a human application trial conducted by a team of urology professors at Severance Hospital were published in 2025 in Investigative and Clinical Urology, the official journal of the Korean Urological Association and an SCIE-level international journal. When 84 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms took the complex for 12 weeks, their total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) decreased by 26%.

In particular, significant improvement was observed in the “sensation of incomplete emptying” item, a source of major discomfort for middle-aged and older men. Furthermore, in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) assessment, key indicators such as erectile function, sexual desire, and overall satisfaction improved significantly compared with the control group. Unlike some existing prostate health ingredients that have raised concerns about reduced sexual function, this complex showed concurrent improvement in both urinary symptoms and sexual function indicators.

Safety secured with 100% domestically sourced ingredients

The Chamdanggui-Astragalus Extract Complex uses domestically sourced ingredients selected and standardized by the Rural Development Administration, thereby ensuring quality and safety. The Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) system is applied to systematically manage the entire process from cultivation to post-harvest handling.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has also recognized the complex as an individually approved functional ingredient with the claim “may help maintain prostate health” (No. 2024-28). Experts stated, “It is significant that a national institution has taken the lead in scientifically validating the functionality of Korean medicinal crops,” and evaluated that “this verified new domestic material is expected to establish itself as a new option for prostate health management.”

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