Home Ingredients AGEprost® (Ageratum conyzoides Aerial Extract — Gencor)
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AGEprost® (Ageratum conyzoides Aerial Extract — Gencor)

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae); tropical whiteweed, goat weed, billygoat weed
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
2 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

AGEprost® is an extract of the aerial parts of Ageratum conyzoides (tropical whiteweed) supplied by Gencor. Its human evidence is one 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 109 men aged 41 to 76 with medically diagnosed prostate enlargement. On 250 mg a day, prostate symptom scores and daytime and night-time urination frequency fell over the treatment period; the published summary reports these changes over time rather than as a direct comparison with placebo, and no second trial has repeated them. Hormone levels and PSA stayed within normal ranges. The plant naturally contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can harm the liver, so only an extract with these alkaloids removed should be used. Gencor has announced that Health Canada listed the ingredient with prostate health claims.

Studied Dose 250 mg once a day for 12 weeks, the dose used in the only human trial.
Active Compound Aerial-part extract of Ageratum conyzoides. The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, chromenes and sterols.

Benefits

Prostate-related urinary symptom scores in men

In a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 109 men aged 41 to 76 with medically diagnosed prostate enlargement, 250 mg a day was followed by a significant fall in the total International Prostate Symptom Score. The published summary describes change over time rather than a direct comparison with placebo, and this is the only human trial.

Supported by Trial 1

Daytime and night-time urination frequency

In the same trial, daytime and night-time urination frequency fell significantly over the 12 weeks, again reported as change over time. Testosterone, DHT, PSA, blood lipids and glucose stayed within normal ranges, and sexual function scores did not change. No second trial has checked these results.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

5-alpha-reductase gene expression (cell study)

In cultured human prostate cells, the extract lowered messenger RNA for both types of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In the human trial, blood DHT and testosterone stayed within normal ranges, so this cell finding has not been shown to change hormone levels in men.

2

Androgen signaling in a rat model

In rats given testosterone to enlarge the prostate, an ethanolic Ageratum conyzoides extract taken by mouth for 42 days reduced prostate weight and epithelial thickness, lowered androgen-related hormones and androgen receptor signaling, and increased markers of programmed cell death in prostate tissue. This is an animal result, and that extract may differ from AGEprost®.

3

Plant constituents

Ageratum conyzoides contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, chromenes and sterols. Its alkaloids include pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to liver cells, so the way the extract is processed matters for safety.

Clinical trials

1
Ageratum conyzoides Extract in Men with Prostate Enlargement: 12-Week RCT
PubMed

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 250 mg a day of Ageratum conyzoides extract or placebo, taken once daily for 12 weeks (Detering et al. 2017, BioFactors).

109 men aged 41 to 76 with medically diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The total International Prostate Symptom Score and daytime and night-time urination frequency fell significantly over time with the extract (p < 0.01); the abstract does not report a direct between-group comparison with placebo. Testosterone, DHT, oestradiol, SHBG, PSA, lipids and blood glucose stayed within healthy reference ranges in both groups, and Aging Males' Symptoms and sexual function scores did not change in either group. The trial has not been repeated.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Safety headline: Ageratum conyzoides naturally contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been shown to harm liver cells. Use only a product made from an extract with these alkaloids removed, and avoid it if you have liver disease.
Human safety data come from a single 12-week trial in 109 men, so longer use has not been studied in people.
In rats, an alkaloid-free aerial extract caused no harm to pregnant animals or their offspring at up to 2,000 mg/kg a day, and a separate 90-day rat study of an ethanolic extract found no toxic effects at the same top dose.
Not studied in women; avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding because there are no human data.
Allergic reactions are possible in people sensitive to plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Hormone-sensitive cancers: talk with your oncologist first, because the extract lowered 5-alpha-reductase expression in cell studies.

Important Drug interactions

5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride): no interaction studies; the extract acted on the same enzyme in cell studies, so discuss combined use with your doctor.
Alpha-blockers for urinary symptoms (such as tamsulosin): no interaction studies; tell your doctor if you take both.
Testosterone therapy: no interaction studies; hormone levels stayed within normal ranges in the trial.
Medicines that can strain the liver: use caution, given the liver risk from pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the plant.

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Frequently asked questions about AGEprost® (Ageratum conyzoides Aerial Extract — Gencor)

What is AGEprost?

AGEprost® is an extract of the aerial parts of Ageratum conyzoides (tropical whiteweed) supplied by Gencor. Its human evidence is one 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 109 men aged 41 to 76 with medically diagnosed prostate enlargement.

What is AGEprost used for?

AGEprost is researched primarily for Men's Health, Prostate Health, and Kidney/Urinary Tract. In a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 109 men aged 41 to 76 with medically diagnosed prostate enlargement, 250 mg a day was followed by a significant fall in the total International Prostate Symptom Score.

What is the recommended dosage of AGEprost?

The clinically studied dose is 250 mg once a day for 12 weeks, the dose used in the only human trial. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is AGEprost safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for AGEprost include: Safety headline: Ageratum conyzoides naturally contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been shown to harm liver cells. Use only a product made from an extract with these alkaloids removed, and avoid it if you have liver disease. It may also interact with some medications. AGEprost is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does AGEprost interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride): no interaction studies; the extract acted on the same enzyme in cell studies, so discuss combined use with your doctor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for AGEprost?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for AGEprost as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 study summary and 6 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(6 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Detering M, Steels E, Koyyalamudi SR, Allifranchini E, Bocchietto E, Vitetta L Ageratum conyzoides L. inhibits 5-alpha-reductase gene expression in human prostate cells and reduces symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy in otherwise healthy men in a double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical study. Biofactors. 2017;43(6):789-800. doi: 10.1002/biof.1389.PubMedUsed to support: A 12-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 109 men aged 41 to 76 with medically diagnosed BPH taking 250 mg a day of Ageratum conyzoides extract or placebo. Total IPSS and day- and night-time urinary frequency fell significantly over time with the extract (p < 0.01); the abstract does not give a between-group comparison. Steroid hormones, SHBG, PSA, lipids and glucose stayed within reference ranges, and Aging Males' Symptoms and sexual function scores did not change. The extract also lowered 5-alpha-reductase type 1 and 2 messenger RNA in cultured human prostate cells.
  2. Chung EH, Kim JW, Kim JH, Jeong JS, Lim JH, Boo SY, Ko JW, Kim TW Ageratum conyzoides Extract Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia via Inhibiting Proliferation, Inflammation of Prostates, and Induction of Apoptosis in Rats. Nutrients. 2024;16(14):2267. doi: 10.3390/nu16142267.PubMedUsed to support: Rat study. In rats given testosterone to enlarge the prostate, an ethanolic Ageratum conyzoides extract given by mouth at 20 to 100 mg/kg for 42 days reduced prostate weight, prostate index and epithelial thickness, suppressed androgens and androgen receptor signaling, and increased apoptosis in prostate tissue. It did not test smooth muscle relaxation, and the extract was not identified as AGEprost.
  3. Yadav N, Ganie SA, Singh B, Chhillar AK, Yadav SS Phytochemical constituents and ethnopharmacological properties of Ageratum conyzoides L. Phytother Res. 2019;33(9):2163-2178. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6405.PubMedUsed to support: Narrative review of Ageratum conyzoides. It lists the plant's constituents (alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, chromenes and sterols), its traditional uses and its pharmacology and toxicology. Background only; it contains no clinical trial of the extract.
  4. Subah S, Bogoda N, Glávits R, Venkatesh R, Murbach TS, Kolep-Csete K Prenatal developmental toxicity study of an alkaloid-free Ageratum conyzoides extract powder in rats by oral administration. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2020;117:104748. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104748.PubMedUsed to support: Rat study with Gencor-affiliated authors. It states that pyrrolizidine alkaloids naturally present in Ageratum conyzoides have caused toxicity in past studies, particularly to liver cells, and that its aerial-part extract had these alkaloids removed. Pregnant rats given 500 to 2,000 mg/kg a day showed no treatment-related harm to mothers or offspring.
  5. Palmer PA, Bryson JA, Clewell AE, Endres JR, Hirka G, Vértesi A, Béres E, Glávits R, Szakonyiné IP A comprehensive toxicological safety assessment of an extract of Ageratum conyzoides. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2019;103:140-149. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.01.027.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory and rat safety tests of an ethanolic Ageratum conyzoides extract intended for food use. It showed no mutagenic or genotoxic activity, and a 90-day oral rat study found no deaths or toxic changes at up to 2,000 mg/kg a day, the highest dose tested.
  6. Montemarano M Gencor's AGEprost Ingredient Receives Health Canada Approved Claims Nutraceuticals World. 2021;Published March 11, 2021..SourceUsed to support: Trade press report, not PubMed-indexed. It reports that AGEprost was listed on Health Canada's Licensed Natural Health Products Database in March 2021 with claims including that it helps support prostate health and is clinically shown to support prostate health.