Evaluation of 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of certain herbs useful as antiandrogens

Abstract

This study demonstrates 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of certain herbs useful in the management of androgenic disorders. Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst (GL), Urtica dioica Linn. (UD), Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming. (CB), Tribulus terrestris Linn. (TT), Pedalium murex Linn. (PM), Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (SI), Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (CR), Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (CC), Benincasa hispida Cogn. (BH), Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (PN) and Echinops echinatus Linn. (EE) were included in the study. Petroleum ether, ethanol and aqueous extracts of these herbs were tested for their 5α-reductase inhibitory activity against the standard 5α-reductase inhibitor, finasteride. A biochemical method to determine the activity of 5α-reductase was used to evaluate the inhibition of different extracts to the enzyme. The optical density (OD) value of each sample was measured continuously with ultraviolet spectrophotometer for the reason that the substrate NADPH has a specific absorbance at 340 nm. As the enzyme 5α-reductase uses NADPH as a substrate, so in the presence of 5α-reductase inhibitor, the NADPH concentration will increase with the function of time. This method thus implicates the activity of 5α-reductase. The method proved to be extremely useful to screen the herbs for their 5α-reductase inhibitory potential. GL, UD, BH, SI and CR came out to be promising candidates for further exploring their antiandrogenic properties.

The use of medicinal herbs in gynecological and pregnancy-related disorders by Jordanian women: a review of folkloric practice vs. evidence-based pharmacology

“…In addition, C. colocynthis was found to exert antiandrogenic effects via 5a-reductase inhibitory activity (Nahata & Dixit 2014), as well as antispermatogenic effects in male rats (Mali et al 2001) with reduction in serum testosterone. It also induces reversible antifertility and antiandrogenic nature in male rats (Chaturvedi et al 2003) and showed contraceptive properties in male rats (Sharma et al 2014).…”

“…As mentioned earlier, various plant species have adverse effects on male fertility but they have never been ethnopharmacologically used for that purpose specifically. Citrullus colocynthis has antiandrogenic propertiy via 5a-reductase inhibitory activity (Nahata & Dixit 2014), antispermatogenic effects in male rats (Mali et al 2001) with reduction in serum testosterone. It exerted reversible antifertility and antiandrogenic properties (Chaturvedi et al 2003), and was found to be a contraceptive in male rats (Sharma et al 2014).…”

A proprietary herbal extract against hair loss in androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium: a placebo-controlled, single-blind, clinical-instrumental study

“…The use of Ud root extract in symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms has been investigated in numerous clinical trials and found effective (14)(15)(16)(17). This indication is mainly due to its 5α-R inhibition activity (18,19). Inhibition of 5α-R hampers the formation of DHT from testosterone.…”

NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 silencing aggravates hormone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in mice

“…Hence, many researches are focused on modulating molecular targets of 5α‐reductase‐AR pathway that contribute to the hyperplasia of prostate (Clark, Hermann, Cunningham, Wilson, & Morrill, ; Schmidt & Tindall, ). Moreover, antiandrogenic property of several herbs was assessed by measuring the NADPH concentration, which is a substrate for 5α‐reductase (Nahata & Dixit, ).…”