Flower pollen extract
Also called Cernilton, Cernitin, rye-grass pollen extract, Swedish flower pollen extract, Graminex, pollen extract.
Best grade B across 8 graded outcomes Other Last checked
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The short answer
From 10 sourcesFlower pollen extract, best known as Cernilton, is studied for men's prostate and pelvic pain symptoms. A 139-man placebo-controlled trial found less pelvic pain and better quality of life over 12 weeks. Older prostate-enlargement trials found better self-rated symptoms and less night-time urination, but no change in urine flow or prostate size.
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
Source Naturals Swedish Flower Pollen, 90 tablets
from HerbsPro
Label: 3 tablets: 378 mg Swedish flower pollen standardised extract (1.4% alpha-amino acids, 0.08% phytosterols).
Best for trying one bottle: $24.49 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Every graded outcome on this page
8 rows · line = participants- BGrade BQuality of life in chronic prostatitis (pooled trials)Pelvic painn 384
- BGrade BPelvic pain and quality of life in chronic prostatitisPelvic painn 139
- CGrade CUrinary symptoms of an enlarged prostateProstaten 444
- CGrade CChronic prostatitis symptoms vs ibuprofen (pollen extract suppositories)Pelvic painn 124
- CGrade CPelvic pain vs tadalafil, added to an alpha-blockerPelvic painn 87
- CGrade CSymptoms of chronic nonbacterial prostatitisPelvic painn 60
- DGrade DHot flashes and other menopausal symptomsMenopausen 420
- DGrade DHot flashes in breast cancer survivorsMenopausen 39
Key facts
- What it is
- Standardised pollen extract; the trial products were Cernilton/Cernitin and Prostat/Poltit234
- Best-studied outcome
- Pelvic pain and quality of life in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (B)35
- Prostate enlargement
- Self-rated urinary symptoms and night-time urination improved vs placebo; flow rate, residual urine and prostate size did not (C)2
- Null result
- A purified pollen cytoplasm product for hot flashes lost significance when only controlled studies were pooled7
What it is
Flower pollen extract (Cernilton, Cernitin) is a standardised grass and flower pollen extract, studied mainly for prostate symptoms.
How it works
ProposedPre-clinical studies summarised in a 2017 review report anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of pollen extract. These are laboratory and animal findings; the human mechanism has not been established.5
Forms
Form
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standardised flower pollen extract (Cernilton, Cernitin and similar) | Varies2Not applicable (a botanical extract) | No human absorption data in the cited studies.5 | Adverse events were rare and mild in the prostate-enlargement trials (withdrawals 4.8% vs 2.7% on placebo) and minor in the 12-week phase 3 trial.23 | Chronic pelvic pain and prostate symptoms in men |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
8 graded outcomes, largest study first8 graded outcomes: 4 improved, 3 mixed, 1 no effect. The largest, a 2000 systematic review of 444 people on urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, found mixed results.
1Urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate
Mixed · Grade C · Systematic review, 444 people, 2000
Men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in 2 placebo-controlled and 2 comparative trials
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate | Mixed | 444 | Grade C · Systematic review, 2000 | Men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in 2 placebo-controlled and 2 comparative trials |
| Hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms | No effect | 420 | Grade D · Meta-analysis, 2024 | Women with menopausal vasomotor symptoms (1 randomised trial and 4 observational studies) |
| Quality of life in chronic prostatitis (pooled trials) | Improved | 384 | Grade B · Meta-analysis, 2017 | Men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in 4 randomised trials |
| Pelvic pain and quality of life in chronic prostatitis | Improved | 139 | Grade B · RCT, 2009 | Men with inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (NIH IIIA) attending urology centres |
| Chronic prostatitis symptoms vs ibuprofen (pollen extract suppositories) | Improved | 124 | Grade C · RCT, 2022 | Men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (mean age 34.6) |
| Pelvic pain vs tadalafil, added to an alpha-blocker | Mixed | 87 | Grade C · RCT, 2020 | Japanese men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and urinary symptoms despite alpha-blocker therapy (100 randomised) |
| Symptoms of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis | Improved | 60 | Grade C · RCT, 2006 | Men aged 20 to 55 with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome for more than 6 months who had not responded to therapy |
| Hot flashes in breast cancer survivors | Mixed | 39 | Grade D · RCT, 2024 | Breast cancer survivors with hot flashes (Italy) |
Every graded row
8 rowsShowing 8 of 8 outcomes. Human trials only.
BGrade BQuality of life in chronic prostatitis (pooled trials)Pelvic painBetter quality of lifeMeta-analysis · 4 studies
n 384 · 2017
Improved Pollen extract significantly improved quality of life (OR 0.52; 0.34 to 0.81). Six uncontrolled studies (206 men) reported a mean 83.6% response rate. No significant adverse events were reported.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 4 studies, n = 384, 2017
- Population
- Men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in 4 randomised trials
- Form
- Flower pollen extract (various products)
- Dose
- As used in each trial
- Duration
- Varied by trial
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 28431537 (opens PubMed)
BGrade BPelvic pain and quality of life in chronic prostatitisPelvic painLess pain, better quality of lifeRCT
n 139 · 2009
Improved Pain (p = 0.0086), quality of life (p = 0.025) and total NIH-CPSI score (p = 0.0126) improved more than with placebo; 70.6% vs 50.0% responded (p = 0.0141). Adverse events were minor.
- Design
- RCT, n = 139, 2009
- Population
- Men with inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (NIH IIIA) attending urology centres
- Form
- Cernilton pollen extract
- Dose
- 2 capsules every 8 hours (capsule strength not given in the abstract)
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 19524353 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CUrinary symptoms of an enlarged prostateProstateBetter self-rated symptoms; no change in flowSystematic review · 4 studies
n 444 · 2000
Mixed Self-rated improvement was more likely than with placebo (RR 2.40; 95% CI 1.21 to 4.75), and night-time urination improved (RR 2.05; 1.41 to 3.00). Urine flow, residual volume and prostate size did not improve.
- Design
- Systematic review, 4 studies, n = 444, 2000
- Population
- Men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in 2 placebo-controlled and 2 comparative trials
- Form
- Cernilton (rye-grass pollen extract)
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- 12 to 24 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 10792162 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CChronic prostatitis symptoms vs ibuprofen (pollen extract suppositories)Pelvic painMore men improved than on ibuprofenRCT
n 124 · 2022
Improved 56 of 63 men (88.8%) on the pollen suppositories had a significant fall in NIH-CPSI total score, compared with 17 of 61 on ibuprofen; quality of life improved more, and adverse events were mild and less frequent than with ibuprofen.
- Design
- RCT, n = 124, 2022
- Population
- Men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (mean age 34.6)
- Form
- Rectal suppositories of pollen extract with hyaluronic acid and vitamins
- Dose
- 1 suppository daily for 10 days (vs ibuprofen 600 mg/day)
- Duration
- 10 days of treatment, follow-up to 6 months
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 33781014 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CPelvic pain vs tadalafil, added to an alpha-blockerPelvic painMore pain relief; less help with urinationRCT
n 87 · 2020
Mixed Total NIH-CPSI score fell more with cernitin (−6.8 vs −4.6; p = .02), as did the pain score (−4.1 vs −1.5; p < .001), but urinary symptoms improved more with tadalafil.
- Design
- RCT, n = 87, 2020
- Population
- Japanese men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and urinary symptoms despite alpha-blocker therapy (100 randomised)
- Form
- Cernitin pollen extract
- Dose
- 4 capsules per day (vs tadalafil 5 mg/day)
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 32648985 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CSymptoms of chronic nonbacterial prostatitisPelvic painMore men improvedRCT
n 60 · 2006
Improved More men on the pollen extract were rated cured or improved than on placebo; no adverse reactions were found.
- Design
- RCT, n = 60, 2006
- Population
- Men aged 20 to 55 with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome for more than 6 months who had not responded to therapy
- Form
- Prostat/Poltit pollen extract preparation
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- 6 months
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 16413333 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DHot flashes and other menopausal symptomsMenopauseNo benefit over placeboMeta-analysis · 5 studies
n 420 · 2024
No effect Scores improved from baseline across studies, but when only controlled studies were pooled, the improvements were no longer statistically significant. No significant adverse effects.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 5 studies, n = 420, 2024
- Population
- Women with menopausal vasomotor symptoms (1 randomised trial and 4 observational studies)
- Form
- Purified cytoplasm of pollen (a different pollen preparation)
- Dose
- As used in each study
- Duration
- 3 months
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 38194609 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DHot flashes in breast cancer survivorsMenopauseFewer hot flashes vs baselineRCT
n 39 · 2024
Mixed In the pollen group, the number of hot flashes fell from baseline at 3 months (p = 0.02) and rated hot-flash intensity improved; the abstract reports these as changes from baseline and gives no clear comparison with placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 39, 2024
- Population
- Breast cancer survivors with hot flashes (Italy)
- Form
- Purified cytoplasm of pollen (PureCyTonin; a different pollen preparation)
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- 3 months
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 38760920 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Pain responds better than urine flow
One solid trial, several weaker ones
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Interactions
0 agentsNone found in our sources.
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Flower pollen extract and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Flower pollen extract.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
2 groups- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- The trials enrolled men with prostate symptoms and women with menopausal symptoms; none studied pregnancy, breastfeeding or children, so there are no safety data for these groups. NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.371
- Medicines and surgery
- NCCIH advises that supplements may interact with medications or pose risks before surgery, and to tell your health care providers about everything you use.1
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
Where to buy Flower pollen extract
Products from brands we partner with that contain Flower pollen extract. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Flower pollen extract products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickHerbsProSource Naturals Swedish Flower Pollen, 90 tablets
3 tablets: 378 mg Swedish flower pollen standardised extract (1.4% alpha-amino acids, 0.08% phytosterols); the label does not say whether it is the Cernilton/Cernitin extract used in trials
$24.49one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes pollen extract help chronic prostatitis?
Does it shrink an enlarged prostate?
No. In a review of 4 trials with 444 men, self-rated symptoms and night-time urination improved, but urine flow and prostate size did not change.2
Does pollen extract help hot flashes?
Not clearly. A 2024 meta-analysis of a purified pollen product found improvements disappeared when only controlled studies were pooled.7
Does flower pollen extract have side effects?
Does flower pollen extract interact with medications?
No interaction has been documented. LiverTox, LactMed, NCCIH and MedlinePlus have no entry for it, and one 12-week trial gave it as an add-on to alpha-blocker medicine, but no study has looked for interactions, so they are untested rather than ruled out.6
Is flower pollen extract the same as bee pollen?
Sources
10 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
10 sources- 1Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 2A systematic review of Cernilton for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.Systematic review BJU Int, 2000 · PMID 10792162
- 3A pollen extract (Cernilton) in patients with inflammatory chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.RCT Eur Urol, 2009 · PMID 19524353
- 4Effects of pollen extract preparation Prostat/Poltit on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.RCT Urology, 2006 · PMID 16413333
- 5The role of flower pollen extract in managing patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of all published clinical trials.Meta-analysis BMC Urol, 2017 · PMID 28431537
- 6Comparison of cernitin pollen extract vs tadalafil therapy for refractory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized, prospective study.RCT Neurourol Urodyn, 2020 · PMID 32648985
- 7The efficacy of purified pollen extract for reducing vasomotor symptoms in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Menopause, 2024 · PMID 38194609
- 8A prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial on purified and specific Cytoplasmic pollen extract for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors.RCT Gynecol Endocrinol, 2024 · PMID 38760920
- 9The efficacy and tolerability of pollen extract in combination with hyaluronic acid and vitamins in the management of patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a 26 weeks, randomized, controlled, single-blinded, phase III study.RCT Minerva Urol Nephrol, 2022 · PMID 33781014
- 10Therapeutic efficacy of orally administered pollen for nonallergic diseases: An umbrella review.Systematic review Phytother Res, 2019 · PMID 31435975
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, who should avoid, FAQ, questions, related | Re-ran the PubMed search for pollen extract trials and reviews (through October 2026). Added a 2022 randomized trial of pollen extract suppositories (with hyaluronic acid and vitamins) against ibuprofen in 124 men with chronic prostatitis (grade C, combination product) and a 2024 placebo-controlled trial of a purified pollen cytoplasm product for hot flashes in 39 breast cancer survivors (grade D, changes reported only from baseline), and a 2019 umbrella review to the bee-pollen FAQ. Not added: uncontrolled or non-randomized studies of pollen extract with teupolioside or vitamins (2019–2026). Interactions checked: LiverTox, LactMed, NCCIH and MedlinePlus have no flower pollen extract entry (LiverTox's bee products chapter covers bee pollen, a different product), so the list stays empty and the FAQ now says so. Rewrote the pregnancy note around the trial populations, replaced the FAQ dose item (already answered by the page) with side effects, and added page questions and a goal-hub link. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; every number comes from the abstracts. Funding: none of the abstracts names a funder; the 2024 meta-analysis reports no conflicts. A Cochrane version of the 2000 review was later withdrawn from the Cochrane Library, so we cite the BJU International paper. Safety rows use NCCIH's general supplement guidance only; no pollen-extract page exists on our approved safety sources. Where to buy: Source Naturals Swedish Flower Pollen (label checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.