Pharmacological Effects of the Lipidosterolic Extract from Kigelia Africana Fruits in Experimental Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced by Testosterone in Sprague Dawley Rats

Saw palmetto, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, caused unexpected side effects like breast changes and altered semen consistency, which resolved after stopping its use. Concerns about similar side effects with finasteride or dutasteride were expressed, and another user reported low libido and depression from saw palmetto.

Finasteride use led to a slight increase in estradiol and some erectile dysfunction, but libido remained good. Suggestions included monitoring weight, exercising, and considering supplements like Yohimbe and Tongkat Ali to manage side effects.

The conversation discusses using hormones like pregnenolone and tongkat ali to counteract sexual side effects from hair loss medications such as finasteride, dutasteride, ketoconazole, and minoxidil. The user stopped the other medications but continues using minoxidil while seeking advice on maintaining libido.

A 30-year-old man experienced significant hair regrowth and improved libido after using finasteride and dutasteride for androgenetic alopecia, with no adverse effects. He plans to reduce dutasteride dosage when trying to conceive and has been using topical minoxidil since 2015.

Zinc picolinate and saw palmetto may lower DHT but are less effective than finasteride. Finasteride and minoxidil are preferred treatments, with ketoconazole shampoo as a suggested addition.

FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.