Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is a common disease of the male urinary system, and its incidence rate in China is increasing. However, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of BPH remains unclear. Some studies demonstrated that the incidence of BPH was related to the change in the levels of steroid hormones. Too high content of dihydrotestosterone(DHT) in the body may cause BPH and other related diseases. Testosterone(T) is converted to DHT by 5α-reductase(SRD5A). By inhibiting the activity of this enzyme, the production of DHT can be reduced, and then the incidence of BPH can be lowered. Therefore, it has drawn great attention to screen and discover safer and more effective 5α-reductase inhibitors from natural medicines to treat prostatic hyperplasia without affecting the physiological function of men. This review summarizes the characteristics and tissue distribution of 5α-reductase, the discovery of 5α-reductase inhibitors in traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicines, 5α-reductase inhibitors commonly used in clinical practice and their side effects, as well as the animal models of prostatic hyperplasia and common detection indicators, aiming to provide a reference for more in-depth understanding and research about BPH and development of drugs.
Keywords: 5α-reductase; 5α-reductase inhibitors; Chinese medicinal materials; animal models; benign prostatic hyperplasia; natural medicines.