Evaluation of 5α-Reductase Inhibitory Activity of Certain Herbs Useful as Antiandrogens

In a 2013 study, researchers evaluated the 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of eleven herbs to assess their potential as antiandrogens. The herbs tested were Ganoderma lucidum, Urtica dioica, Caesalpinia bonducella, Tribulus terrestris, Pedalium murex, Sphaeranthus indicus, Cuscuta reflexa, Citrullus colocynthis, Benincasa hispida, Phyllanthus niruri, and Echinops echinatus, using petroleum ether, ethanol, and aqueous extracts. The study compared the inhibitory effects of these extracts to finasteride, a standard 5α-reductase inhibitor, by measuring the optical density at 340 nm to evaluate enzyme inhibition. The results showed that Ganoderma lucidum, Urtica dioica, Benincasa hispida, Sphaeranthus indicus, and Cuscuta reflexa exhibited significant inhibitory potential, suggesting their promise as antiandrogenic agents. Further research was recommended to investigate their mechanisms of action and the type of inhibition they exert on 5α-reductase.