Phytochemicals With Anti 5-Alpha-Reductase Activity: A Prospective For Prostate Cancer Treatment

March 2021 in “ F1000Research ”

Aziemah Azizi, Nuramalina H Mumin, N. Shafqat

TLDR Plant-based compounds might be effective, low-side-effect treatments for prostate cancer by blocking a specific enzyme.

The document reviewed the potential of phytochemicals as alternatives to synthetic 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5αRis) for prostate cancer (CaP) treatment, highlighting the role of androgens and 5αR enzymes in CaP progression. It discussed the limitations and side effects of synthetic 5αRis like finasteride and dutasteride, and emphasized the promising anti-CaP properties of plant-derived compounds such as β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol, polyphenols (quercetin, myricetin, fisetin), and fatty acids (myristic acid, lauric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid). These phytochemicals showed significant inhibitory activity on 5αR isozymes and offered a safer alternative with fewer side effects compared to conventional treatments.

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