Serenoa Repens in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: Literature Review

The document reviews the use of Serenoa repens (S. repens), a plant, for treating androgenetic alopecia (hair loss). The plant's fruits inhibit androgens in the hair follicle, but there is no standard dose for its use in alopecia treatment. The scientific evidence suggests that S. repens is effective for treating androgenetic alopecia, but less potent than finasteride, a common hair loss medication. However, the studies lack standardization and include few patients, limiting their reliability. Side effects are generally mild and similar to a placebo, with more serious complications reported but their causal relationship is questionable. The document concludes that more well-designed studies with larger population samples are needed to confirm S. repens's effectiveness for hair loss treatment.