How Plant Extracts Influence Excess Androgen Activity

Androgens Are Not Inherently “Bad” Hormones

Androgens include hormones such as testosterone, DHEA and dihydrotestosterone, more commonly known as DHT.

Although they are often called “male hormones”, androgens also have important roles in the female body. Problems arise when androgen levels or androgen signalling become dysregulated.

In PCOS/PMOS, excess androgen activity contributes to symptoms such as:

• Acne and oily skin

• Unwanted facial or body hair growth

• Hair thinning or loss from the scalp

• Irregular ovulation

• Irregular menstrual cycles

Supporting excess androgen activity is therefore not about removing androgens from the body. It is about restoring healthier production, conversion and signalling.

Androgen Activity Is About More Than Your Testosterone Level

Hormone levels are only one part of the picture.

An enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT, a more potent androgen. Androgens then bind to androgen receptors within cells, where they activate specific genes and biological responses.

This means that androgen-related symptoms are influenced by:

• How much androgen the body produces

• How much testosterone is converted into DHT

• The activity of androgen receptors

• How sensitive different tissues are to androgen signals

• Insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress

The studies included in this review found that different plant extracts influence different parts of this system.

Some Plant Extracts Reduce The Conversion Of Testosterone Into DHT

One of the main mechanisms explored in the paper was the inhibition of 5-alpha reductase.

This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT, which binds more strongly to androgen receptors. DHT is particularly relevant within androgen-sensitive tissues such as the skin and hair follicles.

Several plant extracts reduced 5-alpha reductase activity in laboratory or animal models. Saw palmetto and green tea extract were two of the most relevant ingredients discussed.

Plant Extracts Also Influence The Androgen Receptor

Androgens must interact with androgen receptors to deliver their messages within cells.

Across the studies reviewed, plant extracts influenced this process by:

• Competing with androgens for access to the receptor

• Reducing androgen receptor expression

• Limiting the movement of activated receptors into the cell nucleus

• Reducing the activation of androgen-responsive genes

These findings show that plant extracts can influence both androgen levels and how strongly tissues respond to those androgens.

However, these specific mechanisms were primarily demonstrated in cells and animals rather than clinical trials involving women with PCOS/PMOS.

Saw Palmetto Acts Across More Than One Androgen Pathway

Saw palmetto was one of the most extensively discussed botanicals in the review.

Laboratory research found that saw palmetto fruit extract reduced DHT production, inhibited 5-alpha reductase activity and interfered with androgen receptor activation.

The paper also explained that different compounds within saw palmetto perform different roles. Its free fatty acids directly inhibit 5-alpha reductase, while its naturally occurring phytosterols influence the surrounding inflammatory environment.

Together, these compounds produced a stronger effect than isolated components in prostate cell research.

Most of the saw palmetto evidence discussed in the review relates to prostate and hair models. More clinical research is needed to determine how these mechanisms translate to women with PCOS/PMOS.

Green Tea And EGCG May Influence Several Androgen Pathways

Green tea extract was another interesting botanical discussed in the review.

EGCG, one of the major active compounds in green tea, has been studied for its potential effects on 5-alpha reductase, androgen receptor signalling and CYP17A1, an enzyme involved in androgen production.

However, the researchers also highlighted an important limitation. EGCG has a relatively short lifespan in the bloodstream and is susceptible to oxidation. This means that promising activity observed in a laboratory does not necessarily tell us how much active EGCG reaches androgen-sensitive tissues after it is consumed.

It is another reminder that the amount of an ingredient, how it is standardised and what happens to it inside the body all matter.

Nettle And Chamomile Were Studied Together In A PCOS Model

The paper included a study examining nettle leaf and chamomile extracts in mice with experimentally induced PCOS.

The combination improved ovarian follicles, restored reproductive cycles and increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

The botanicals were studied together, so the results do not tell us how much each individual extract contributed.

The study also used nettle leaf. These findings cannot automatically be applied to nettle root because different parts of the same plant contain different active compounds.

This was also a mouse study, so clinical trials are still needed to establish the effects in women with PCOS/PMOS.

Reishi Appeared In Early PCOS Research

The review also referenced a study investigating reishi alongside another botanical in rats with experimentally induced PCOS.

The combined intervention produced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-androgen effects.

Because the botanicals were studied together, the effects cannot be attributed to reishi alone. The paper also does not provide enough information to establish how reishi directly influenced specific androgen pathways.

This makes it an interesting early area of research, rather than strong evidence for a direct anti-androgen effect in women.

More Ingredients Do Not Automatically Create A Better Formula

One of the most useful points raised by this review is that botanical extracts are complex mixtures.

Different compounds within the same plant may work together, influence one another’s absorption or act on complementary pathways. For example, the fatty acids in saw palmetto may influence 5-alpha reductase, while its phytosterols may provide additional support for the surrounding inflammatory environment.

However, combinations are not always automatically beneficial. Some plant compounds can oppose one another, affect how other ingredients are metabolised or change the overall activity of an extract.

This means an effective botanical formula should not simply contain the longest possible ingredient list. The plant part, extraction process, active compound concentration, dose and compatibility between ingredients all need to be considered

What Works In A Laboratory Does Not Always Work The Same Way In The Body

A plant compound can demonstrate strong activity when it is placed directly onto cells in a laboratory. Swallowing that compound introduces a much more complicated process.

Before reaching the skin, hair follicles or ovaries, it must be:

• Released from the supplement or food

• Absorbed through the digestive system

• Metabolised by the liver and gut microbiome

• Carried through the bloodstream

• Delivered to the relevant tissue

Some compounds are rapidly broken down, while others accumulate more easily within specific tissues. The amount that reaches the target area can be very different from the amount used in a laboratory experiment.

Laboratory findings identify important mechanisms, but human clinical trials are still needed to determine whether these mechanisms lead to meaningful improvements in symptoms.

Standardisation Is Just As Important As The Ingredient Name

Two supplements can list the same plant on the label while providing very different amounts of its active compounds.

The review specifically highlighted variability in the fatty acid composition of saw palmetto extracts. When an extract is not properly standardised, its effect on 5-alpha reductase can also be inconsistent.

Plant variety, growing conditions, the part of the plant used, harvesting and extraction methods all change the final composition.

When evaluating botanical supplements, it is important to look beyond whether an ingredient is present. The form, dose and concentration of its relevant active compounds also matter.

What Does This Mean For PCOS/PMOS?

This research shows that androgen activity involves much more than a single testosterone result.

In experimental models, the plant extracts reviewed influenced:

• Androgen production

• The conversion of testosterone into DHT

• Androgen receptor activity

• Inflammation and oxidative stress

• Ovarian and reproductive function

Saw palmetto and green tea extract had the clearest direct connections to androgen production and signalling among the relevant ingredients discussed.

The plant part, active compounds, extraction process, standardisation and combination of ingredients all influence the final result. This is why carefully selected botanical extracts are very different from simply adding a long list of herbs to a formula.