Screening of Euphorbiaceae Plant Extracts for Anti-5α-Reductase Activity

In a study by Hiroaki Kamei and colleagues from 2018, extracts from the Euphorbiaceae family were tested for their ability to inhibit 5α-reductase, an enzyme linked to androgenetic alopecia. The extract from Phyllanthus urinaria showed the highest inhibition, with 24.3% at 50 µg/mL and 64.6% at 200 µg/mL. Additionally, this extract reduced androgen activity in the LNCaP cell line and promoted hair regrowth in a mouse model at a dose of 5 mg/mouse/day. The compound stigmasterol glucoside was identified as the active anti-5α-reductase agent, with an IC50 of 27.2 μM. These results suggest that P. urinaria extract and stigmasterol glucoside could be effective for treating alopecia.