Androgens are known to involve some symptoms and diseases
such as androgenic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), prostate cancer, acne, and hirsutism.
Testosterone is the major circulating androgen acting on
many androgen-responsive tissues. It is metabolized to a
more potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-
reductase. These androgens can bind to androgen nuclear receptors
and cause various hormonal actions . Thus, the
anti-androgens which exhibit inhibitory activity on 5α-
reductase and/or block androgen receptor may be useful for
treatment of these androgen-dependent disorders. Finasteride
has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
since 1992 for BPH treatment . In addition, this group of
drugs is used to treat male pattern baldness. However, finasteride
causes possible adverse effects; gynecomastia, muscle
growth impairment and severe myopathy . Therefore, new
more selective anti-androgenic compounds are needed and
natural products may fulfill this requirement