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.
4 citations
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March 2020 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that Plumbago zeylanica extract and its component plumbagin may help prevent androgenetic alopecia by promoting dermal papilla cell growth and reducing SRD5A2 expression.
13 citations
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January 2015 in “Steroids” This study generated a pharmacophoric model for both isoforms of steroidal 5α-reductase using 6-azasteroids, providing a structural framework for designing new inhibitors.
3 citations
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April 2016 in “Research and reports in urology” In a cell-free test setting, this study found that a novel saw palmetto extract effectively inhibited the 5α-reductase type II enzyme, showing promising bioactivity comparable to finasteride for promoting prostate health.
124 citations
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September 1992 in “Endocrinology” This article discusses the structure of the human type II 5 alpha-reductase gene and reports no new experimental results.
January 2004 in “Pharmaceutical biotechnology” This study found that finasteride effectively inhibits the enzymatic activity of human steroid 5 alpha reductase type II in newly established CHO cell lines.
416 citations
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September 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” People with hair loss have more androgen receptors and enzymes in certain follicles, with men and women showing different patterns.
5 citations
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January 2014 in “Molecular Simulation” This study discovered a potential new 5α-reductase type II inhibitor with higher predicted activity than finasteride, suggesting it as a promising candidate for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.
13 citations
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August 1995 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study found that the pH dependency of rat steroid 5α-reductase type II isozyme significantly affects its kinetic properties, including Vmax and Km, suggesting past discrepancies in literature may arise from these pH variances during assays.
26 citations
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June 2005 in “Journal of Molecular Endocrinology” This study found that both finasteride and dutasteride act as slow, time-dependent inhibitors of steroid 5α-reductase type II, with dutasteride being more efficient, influenced by the enzyme's genetic variants.
In this study using a virtual screening approach, eriocitrin and silymarin were identified as potent flavonoid compounds that strongly and stably interacted with 5α-reductase type II, suggesting potential development as novel treatments for androgenic alopecia.
76 citations
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September 1992 in “Endocrinology” This study details the isolation and characterization of the human type II 5 alpha-reductase gene, which may play a role in male pseudohermaphroditism, prostate cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
12 citations
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June 2007 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology” This study developed a reliable and convenient cell-based model to screen for type II 5α-reductase inhibitors, identifying Curcumae longae and Mori ramulus extracts as potential candidates.
46 citations
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July 2010 in “Advances in Therapy” SPET-085 effectively inhibits an enzyme linked to prostate issues, similar to finasteride.
3 citations
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March 2016 in “Medicinal Chemistry Research” This study used homology modeling to create a detailed in silico structure of 5α-reductase type II, suggesting it can aid in designing steroid reductase drugs.
June 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” In this study, quercetin and kaempferol, two plant-derived flavonoids, showed stronger binding affinities to JAK3 kinase and moderate binding to 5-alpha reductase type 2, suggesting their potential as natural treatments for androgenetic alopecia, with quercetin demonstrating suitable properties for topical application.
June 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This study used molecular docking to analyze the binding affinities of quercetin and kaempferol, plant-derived flavonoids, showing they have promising interaction profiles with JAK3 kinase and moderate binding with 5-alpha reductase type 2, suggesting potential as topical treatments for androgenetic alopecia.
11 citations
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May 2002 in “The Journal of Urology” This study reports that long-term use of finasteride does not affect bone mineral density in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia over a four-year period.
11 citations
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January 2000 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study found that LY320236 is a competitive inhibitor of type I and a non-competitive inhibitor of type II steroid 5alpha-reductase, indicating its potential as a dual inhibitor with differing modes of activity.
2 citations
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September 2009 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation” This study found that low-dose finasteride treatment in men with premature androgenetic alopecia decreased levels of 5α-reduced steroids, which may be linked to increased depression symptoms.
2 citations
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April 2016 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” This study found that a novel saw palmetto supercritical CO2 extract effectively inhibits 5α-reductase type II in vitro, suggesting its potential for promoting prostate health in benign prostatic hyperplasia.
October 2013 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” 1 citations
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May 2002 in “The Journal of Urology” November 2025 in “OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University)” This study found that the leaf extract of Tectona grandis and its major bioactive constituents moderately inhibit the 5α-reductase enzyme, which is linked to androgenetic alopecia, and also possess anti-inflammatory properties, showing promise as dual-action candidates for managing this condition.
17 citations
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June 2012 in “European journal of medicinal chemistry” This study found that compounds 21–23 and 25 exhibited strong 5α-reductase II inhibition in vitro and significantly reduced rat prostate weight, performing comparably to finasteride.
1 citations
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October 2013 in “Our Dermatology Online” This study found that individuals in this Egyptian cohort carrying the leucine (L) allele of the 5-α reductase type II enzyme had a higher risk of developing androgenetic alopecia, which may be associated with oxidative stress.
12 citations
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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.
89 citations
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February 1993 in “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry” This research article focuses on nonsteroidal inhibitors of human type I steroid 5-alpha-reductase but reports no new results.
14 citations
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February 1998 in “Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters” This study explored how modifying the 8-substituent of 8-bromobenzoquinolinone affects its selectivity in inhibiting both 5 alpha-reductase isozymes in the scalp.
1 citations
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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.