11 citations
,
September 1997 in “Archives of Dermatology” Reduced androgens linked to kinky hair disorder and hair loss; 5a-reductase inhibitors may help.
January 2008 in “Lishizhen Medicine and Materia Medica Research” The root extract of Untica mairei Levl may help treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
September 2018 in “Journal of Experimental & Biomedical Sciences” DK peptides can reduce hair loss by inhibiting the 5α-reductase enzyme and have antioxidant effects.
147 citations
,
April 1990 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride safely lowers DHT levels without affecting testosterone.
August 2025 in “ACS Omega” New compounds show promise as nonsteroidal treatments for hair loss.
August 2019 in “Key engineering materials” A microemulsion with Carthamus tinctorius extract effectively inhibits 5α-reductase and improves skin and hair follicle delivery.
47 citations
,
January 2003 in “Current opinion in urology” A new drug, dutasteride, is at least as effective as the older drug, finasteride, for treating enlarged prostate and may have additional uses.
32 citations
,
September 2011 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” Inhibiting 5α-reductase during late pregnancy shortens gestation, reduces litter size, and harms memory in rat offspring.
5 citations
,
August 2018 in “Sexual Medicine Reviews” 5α-Reductase inhibitors do not consistently increase testosterone levels in the blood.
August 2013 in “Circulation Research” Finasteride reduces heart enlargement and improves heart function.
April 1992 in “Current opinion in therapeutic patents” New steroids were patented as effective for treating acne, hair loss, and other conditions related to hormones.
3 citations
,
October 1995 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride helps treat skin issues like acne and baldness by blocking testosterone conversion.
November 2017 in “JAMA internal medicine” Women also use 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss and hirsutism.
47 citations
,
January 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” High testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in hair could predict male-pattern baldness.
45 citations
,
January 2012 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Too much AKR1C3 enzyme causes resistance to finasteride by increasing testosterone.
January 2005 in “Urologia Journal” 5αR inhibitors help slow early prostate cancer cell growth, suggesting combined treatments are needed.
November 2025 in “Drug Testing and Analysis” Epristeride's metabolism involves key metabolites and proteins, affecting its use in doping tests.
June 2001 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology” Finasteride improves hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.
February 2021 in “International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)” A higher testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio in PCOS patients may indicate worse metabolic health.
January 2022 in “Asian journal of Current Research in Clinical Cancer” Some dibenzo compounds might help treat cancer with fewer side effects.
65 citations
,
April 2002 in “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” Plant extracts effectively reduce hair loss and increase growth, offering a safe alternative treatment.
136 citations
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March 1996 in “Journal of the American Chemical Society” Finasteride effectively blocks enzyme causing male pattern baldness.
2 citations
,
April 2021 in “Canadian Journal of Urology” Five-alpha reductase inhibitors, like finasteride and dutasteride, can treat enlarged prostates, improve urination, reduce need for prostate surgery, and lower the risk of prostate cancer, but may increase the risk of higher grade prostate cancer. They can also treat male pattern baldness.
18 citations
,
February 2012 in “Experimental Dermatology” No link found between specific genes and female pattern hair loss.
January 2003 in “Humana Press eBooks” Dihydrotestosterone and 5α-Reductase play a role in hair loss and prostate health, and finasteride can increase hair growth in men without affecting sperm production, but it doesn't work for postmenopausal women with hair loss.
March 2026 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” August 2017 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” Androgenetic alopecia in males is linked to hormone levels and the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.
2 citations
,
July 2025 in “Discover Chemistry.” Alstonia boonei phytochemicals show promise as alternative treatments for BPH with fewer side effects than current drugs.
12 citations
,
January 1998 in “Endocrine journal” Saw palmetto extract can block the enzyme that converts testosterone in pig prostate cells.
October 2010 in “Journal of Men's Health” The conclusion is that doctors should be careful when prescribing 5α-reductase inhibitors due to possible serious side effects, and they should discuss these risks with patients.