15 citations
,
January 1998 in “Journal of Clinical Periodontology” Finasteride helps treat hair loss by blocking enzyme activity.
15 citations
,
June 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This study found that finasteride significantly reduced dihydrotestosterone levels but did not provide clear evidence of impaired libido or erectile function compared to placebo in men.
14 citations
,
April 2021 in “Biology” This study found that ethanol extract of Tubtim Chumphae rice bran downregulates SRD5A gene expression, similarly to finasteride, suggesting potential use as an anti-hair loss product.
13 citations
,
November 2019 in “Scientific reports” This study found that inhibiting 5α-reductase in molluscs provokes a specific shell morphology, suggesting gastropods might have unique 5α-reductase substrates absent in vertebrates.
12 citations
,
November 2024 in “Plants” This study found that the phytosterols β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol have low-to-negligible inhibitory activity against steroidal 5α-reductase type 2 compared to the synthetic inhibitor dutasteride, with β-sitosterol showing the highest activity among the tested phytosterols.
12 citations
,
April 1995 in “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry” In this study, 4-substituted N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-4-androstene-17.beta.-carboxamides were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as potential 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors and antiandrogens.
11 citations
,
May 1996 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” This study reported that 5 alpha-reductase type 2 is the predominant enzyme in pubic skin fibroblasts across normal men, women, and hirsute patients, suggesting potential treatment options for idiopathic hirsutism.
3 citations
,
April 2021 in “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry” This study suggests that finasteride may inhibit the enzyme PNMT, potentially contributing to its sexual and psychological side effects.
2 citations
,
July 2025 in “Discover Chemistry.” This study explored the optimization of phytochemicals from Alstonia boonei to develop potential 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, finding promising analogs with enhanced binding affinity and stability compared to Finasteride, warranting further experimental validation.
2 citations
,
November 2018 in “Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education” This study designed a novel model for 5a-reductase enzyme inhibitors using pharmacophore and 3D QSAR techniques, potentially allowing for improved prediction and development of drug therapies targeting benign prostatic hyperplasia.
1 citations
,
June 2021 in “Singapore Medical Journal” This study suggests that type I 5-alpha reductase may also play a role in hair growth, with dutasteride potentially being more potent than finasteride in modulating key hair growth gene expressions.
May 2026 in “ACS Catalysis” In this study, researchers using QM/MM simulations identified key molecular motions and residue interactions in the enzyme SRD5A2 that significantly influence its catalytic efficiency, demonstrating that specific residues play critical roles in stabilizing transition states and reducing activation barriers.
This study suggests that 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester from African Yam bean seeds may inhibit the human 5α-reductase II enzyme, potentially helping manage BPH, although further studies are needed.
January 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This study reports the discovery of LX-38, a new high-affinity non-steroidal antagonist that could provide the therapeutic benefits of current BPH and AGA treatments without the hormonal side effects, utilizing a distinct "Orthogonal T-Stacking" scaffold for binding.
January 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This study reports the discovery of LX-38, a novel non-steroidal drug candidate that may offer safer treatment for conditions like Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by avoiding hormonal side effects associated with current therapies.
June 2025 in “Pharmaceuticals” This study analyzed reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and observed an upward trend in suicidality-related safety signals among young male finasteride users since 2019, peaking in 2022, highlighting emerging psychiatric safety concerns and the need for vigilant monitoring of this population.
August 2024 in “Latin American Journal of Development” In this review, the authors highlight the involvement of the 5α-reductase enzyme family in androgen-dependent disorders, noting the discovery of a novel isoform, SRD5A3, which is overexpressed in cancers with poor prognosis.
November 2023 in “ACS Omega” This study reported that a novel cationic liposome formulation for delivering encapsulated Cas9 protein and sgRNA successfully decreased SRD5α2 mRNA expression by 29.7% in vitro, suggesting a potential alternative treatment option for conditions like prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia without current drug side effects.
November 2023 in “Scientific reports” This study presents the first report on cloning and characterizing the full-length cDNA of SRD5A1 in Indian catfish (Clarias magur), revealing expression differences across reproductive phases and increased expression post-Ovatide administration in ovaries and testis.
February 2021 in “International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)” This study found that the total testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio is significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and is associated with a worse metabolic profile in both PCOS and healthy women.
March 2010 in “The Journal of Urology” This study demonstrated that methylation of the 5-alpha reductase type 2 (5-AR2) promoter is linked to reduced expression of the 5-AR2 protein, possibly explaining resistance to Finasteride in some BPH patients.
34 citations
,
February 1992 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” In this study, the combination of finasteride and minoxidil significantly increased hair growth in balding male stumptail macaques compared to each drug alone.
19 citations
,
April 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This review found that dutasteride is more potent than finasteride as a dual receptor dihydrotestosterone blocker for treating androgenetic alopecia and shares a similar safety profile in terms of fertility, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity.
10 citations
,
October 2018 in “Sexual medicine reviews” This review discusses sexual side effects in men with androgenic alopecia treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and reports no new clinical findings.
6 citations
,
August 2021 in “Clinical Epidemiology” Men using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for prostate issues may have a slightly higher risk of blood clots.
4 citations
,
August 2021 in “Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy” This review summarizes the association between 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and depression, discussing potential mechanisms such as neuroactive steroid alterations and neuroinflammation, but reports no new clinical results.
4 citations
,
June 2015 in “Journal of Genetics/Journal of genetics” This abstract reports funding sources for ongoing research and does not present any study results.
3 citations
,
January 2022 in “Precision medicine and clinical omics” This study reports that using molecular docking methods, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol from Serenoa repens were identified as potential natural inhibitors of the 5AR1 enzyme, which could serve as novel treatments for androgenetic alopecia based on their inhibitory action observed in a laboratory setting.
2 citations
,
March 2018 in “Current Opinion in Urology” This review discusses the clinical applications and adverse effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia, noting controversies around their implications for other diseases, without reporting new results.
1 citations
,
February 2024 in “Pharmacognosy Journal” In this study, fenugreek seed extract showed significant androgenic and spermatogenic effects in male rats, likely through inhibiting testosterone metabolism, without impacting cardiovascular health.