Ageratum conyzoides L. inhibits 5-alpha-reductase gene expression in human prostate cells and reduces symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy in otherwise healthy men in a double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical study: A. conyzoides is a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor and reduces BPH

Biofactors. 2017 Oct 19. doi: 10.1002/biof.1389. [Epub ahead of print] Detering M1, Steels E2, Koyyalamudi SR3,4, Allifranchini E5, Bocchietto E5, Vitetta L2,6. Author information 1 School of Chemistry, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 2 Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 3 Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 4 Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 5 ABICH S.r.l, Biological and chemical analysis, via 42 Martiri 213/B 28924 Verbania, Italy. 6 Medlab Clinical, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Abstract A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the efficacy and safety of Ageratum conyzoides in treating benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). In this study, 109 men with medically diagnosed BPH, aged 41-76 years, were administered the investigational product, A. conyzoides extract at a dose of 250 mg/d or placebo, q.d. for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measures were the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), daily urinary frequency and safety evaluations. The secondary outcome measures were testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, oestradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol levels, and prostate specific antigen (PSA), lipids, blood glucose, the Aging Male's Symptom (AMS) Score and sexual function assessed by Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning-Self Report (DISF-SR). The effect of A. conyzoides L extract on gene expression of 5-alpha-reductase in human prostate cells was also investigated to elucidate a potential mechanism of action. The clinical study, showed a significant reduction in total IPSS score (p < 0.01) and day- and night-time urinary frequency (P < 0.01) over time after treatment with A. conyzoides. Steroid hormones, SHBG, PSA levels, lipids, and blood glucose remained within healthy reference range in both groups. There were no changes in AMS or DISF-SR in either group. Gene arrays demonstrated that A. conyzoides extract was effective in reducing the expression of mRNA coding for 5-alpha-reductase types 2 and 1 in human prostate epithelial cells. The overall results indicate that A. conyzoides may be an effective treatment for reducing symptoms of BPH in healthy men, in part, through inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase enzyme activity. © 2017 BioFactors, 2017. © 2017 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. KEYWORDS: 5-alpha-reductase; Ageratum conyzoides; aging male; benign prostatic hypertrophy; dihydrotestosterone PMID: 29048765 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1389 Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google+