TLDR Green algae can break down finasteride, reducing environmental harm.
The study found that the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum has the potential to biotransform finasteride, a drug used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, effectively metabolizing it and producing a major and minor metabolite. The study suggests that the green alga can deactivate the drug, mitigating any potential environmental impact.
1040 citations,
October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.
45 citations,
August 2010 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation” Type 3 5α-reductase is more common and finasteride and dutasteride strongly inhibit it.
1 citations,
December 2006 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” Green algae can break down finasteride, reducing environmental harm.
6 citations,
August 1996 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” MK-386 and finasteride together effectively reduce DHT levels, potentially treating acne and male pattern baldness.
3 citations,
October 1995 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride helps treat skin issues like acne and baldness by blocking testosterone conversion.
59 citations,
September 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride reduces scalp DHT levels, potentially treating male pattern baldness.
124 citations,
January 1993 in “The Prostate” Finasteride effectively inhibits 5α reductase, while plant extracts like Permixon and Bazoton don't show significant results.
