ABSTRACT
Testosterone is transformed by 5-reductase into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the active androgen in the prostate (dihydrotestosterone hypothesis). Androgen deprivation has been shown to decrease the size of the prostate. Nettle root extracts come off badly in studies of their effect on 5-reductase. Respective studies were made of 60% ethanolic extract (Koch, 2001) and a 20% methanolic extract (Rhodes et al., 1993), both of which turned out to be ineffective. The study made by Rhodes and coworkers, however, is not without certain shortcomings. For instance, it compares data in mg/ml and not on the basis of daily doses, without taking into account that the daily dose shows distinct differences between finasterid and plant preparations (finasterid 1-5 mg/day; bazoton 600 mg of 20% methanolic extract, corresponding to 6,300 mg of drug per day). In addition to inaccuracies regarding the botanical names there is no consideration of the excipient. In spite of such criticism it remains a fact that an activity of the extracts cannot be explained as a consequence of an inhibited 5-reductase.
