Anti-Androgenic Effect of Sesquiterpenes Isolated from the Rhizomes of Curcuma Aeruginosa Roxb.

In a 2012 study, researchers investigated the anti-androgenic effects of sesquiterpenes from Curcuma aeruginosa, with a focus on a compound named germacrone. Germacrone was found to be a potent inhibitor of 5α-reductase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is linked to conditions like androgenic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The compound effectively inhibited testosterone-induced growth in LNCaP cells and the flank gland of male Syrian hamsters, similar to the drug finasteride. However, germacrone was less effective against DHT-induced growth and did not bind to androgen receptors, suggesting its primary mechanism is through 5α-reductase inhibition. The study concluded that germacrone could be a potential treatment for androgen-dependent disorders, but the number of subjects involved in the study was not provided.