[Lotus]

Haven't seen jackp114 , post for a while here ! He seems to be doing a lot of herbal research [/i]

True, he's still active, just quiet I suppose.

Fantastic summary, Lotus! Thanks as always to our resident sage.

Thanks spanky, I think it's still missing some stuff lol. I'm adding Pharma AA's with some personal observations,


Both finasteride and dutasteride undergo extensive hepatic metabolism primarily via the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP 3A4) isoenzyme system

Finasteride modestly increases serum testosterone (T), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2). Aka-it increases libido, acne, and oily skin, just FYI, or be on the look out, lol

finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and of androstenedione to 5α-androstanedione-3,17-dione, which also leads to the reduction of DHT formation.

Androstenedione is the second most important circulating androgen in men (1st in women) besides testosterone and also a substrate for 5α-reductase enzyme. IMO genetic males go through a process of equilibrium known as upregulation. And upstream of testosterone sits androstenedione, which can go either way via 5 alpha reductase. Once this upregulation is achieved we maintain homeostasis (equilibrium), (not to be confused with hemostasis stops blood flow) I believe the andro to aromatase conversion is the dominate production, in other words, a cascade.

What hormones escape and continue downstream to T will also go through the same process, but with upregulation we're increasing the amount amount of E receptors. Receptors degrade rapidly, I don't know that exact timing of the degradation. But, in my signature below it stated the release and binding times.
Anyways, I'm drifting off topic lol, IMO Finasteride has a slight 22% chance of aromatase, (eventually) I determined that by a recent study (attached below). But, that just proves my point about the upregulation of androstenedione, (DHEA too).

Effect of Finasteride on Serum Androstenedione and Risk of Prostate Cancer Within the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial: Differential Effect on High- and Low-grade Disease.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25733274#


glycyrrhetic acid on ovarian androgen production.

Abstract
We have shown that traditional herbal medicine, Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To consisted of Shakuyaku and Kanzo decreased serum testosterone levels in woman and rat. Therefore, paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizin, a main component of Shakuyaku and Kanzo, respectively, and glycyrrhetic acid, a metabolite of glycyrrhizin in vivo, were investigated for the steroid production in the rat ovary on the morning of proestrus. The homogenized tissues of one ovary were incubated in the Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (pH 7.5) with 100 micrograms/ml of paeoniflorin, glycyrrhetic acid and glycyrrhizin and the medium only (the control) at 37 degrees C for 270 min. After the centrifugation, the concentrations of delta 4-androstenedione, testosterone and estradiol in the supernatants were determined by RIA. The production of the hormones expressed by [concentration x supernatant volume/weight of the ovary] was compared to the control. Paeoniflorin, glycyrrhetic acid and glycyrrhizin decreased significantly the testosterone production but did not change that of delta 4-androstenedione and estradiol. Testosterone/delta 4-androstenedione production ratio was lowered significantly by paeoniflorin, glycyrrhetic acid and glycyrrhizin. Estradiol/testosterone production ratio was increased significantly by glycyrrhetic acid and not changed by paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizin. These results suggest that paeoniflorin, glycyrrhetic acid and glycyrrhizin affect the conversion between delta 4-androstenedione and testosterone to inhibit testosterone synthesis and stimulate the aromatase activity to promote estradiol synthesis by the direct action on the rat proestrous ovary.

Here's another example of up-regulation from a recent study I found.

Overexpression of AIB1Δ3, especially combined with overexpressed ERα, led to an abnormal response to estrogen and progesterone with significant increases in stromal collagen content and development of a multilayered mammary epithelium. AIB1Δ3 overexpression was associated with a significant increase in PR expression and PR downstream signaling genes.


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I'll do spiro next, (and spiro is crazy) it's metabolized quite differently in men in women.