Testosterone 5.ALPHA.-Reductase Inhibitory Active Constituents of Piper nigrum Leaf
January 2007
in “Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin”
TLDR Black pepper leaf extract contains compounds that can block testosterone effects and promote hair growth.
In a study from 2007, researchers found that aqueous ethanolic extracts from the leaves and fruits of Piper nigrum, as well as fruits from Piper cubeba, exhibited potent testosterone 5α-reductase inhibitory activity, which is relevant for the development of cosmetic hair-care agents. The active constituents responsible for this activity were identified as (−)-cubebin (1) and (−)-3,4-dimethoxy-3,4-desmethylenedioxycubebin (2) from P. nigrum leaf extract, and piperine from P. nigrum fruit. These compounds were shown to inhibit 5α-reductase for the first time. Additionally, the P. nigrum leaf extract demonstrated anti-androgenic activity in vivo, as evidenced by a hair regrowth assay in testosterone-sensitive male C57Black/6CrSlc strain mice.
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