Herbs
Many chemical compounds in nature are able to inhibit 5α-reductase, such as those found in the Reishi mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Ganoderic acid or organoderol B may be the active compounds.
Medium chain fatty acids such as those found in coconut and the kernel of many palm fruits have also been found to inhibit 5α-reductase.
Other herbs include:
- Angelica koreana
- Garden Balsam or Rose Balsam (Impatiens balsamina)
- Pollen of Turnip, turnip rape, fast plants, field mustard, or turnip mustard (Brassica rapa)
- Dodder (Cuscuta reflexa)
- Euphorbia jolkinii
- Lingzhi mushroom or Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Chinese Knotweed (Polygonum multiflorum)
- Black Pepper leaf extract (Piper nigrum)
- Red Stinkwood (Pygeum africanum)
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens, active substance possibly lauric acid)
- Pine (Pinus sp. resin, active substance abietic acid)
- Ku Shen or Bitter root (Sophora flavescens)
- Japanese hedge parsley (Torilis japonica)
- Eastern Arborvitae, Northern Whitecedar (Thuja occidentalis)
- Spore of Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum)
None of these plants have been tested in human clinical trials and their potential for the treatment of BPH and related conditions is unknown.
Read more about this topic: 5-alpha-reductase Inhibitor
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