An Update on Plant-Derived Anti-Androgens

The 2012 review article examined the potential of various plant-derived compounds as anti-androgens for conditions like PCOS, hirsutism, acne, and prostate cancer. It noted the growing preference for natural treatments over synthetic medications, which may have sub-optimal efficacy. The paper discussed several compounds, such as spearmint tea, red reishi, licorice, Chinese peony, green tea, black cohosh, chaste tree, and saw palmetto extract, highlighting their proposed mechanisms and the varying levels of evidence supporting their use. While some, like spearmint tea, showed promise in reducing free testosterone levels in women with PCOS, others, like saw palmetto extract, did not demonstrate significant efficacy in clinical trials. The authors called for more rigorous clinical trials to validate the effectiveness of these natural therapies.