Unscrewing the DHT-Blocking Properties of Allium cepa Extract: Virtual Screening of Active Compounds Against 5-Alpha Reductase and Evaluation of ADME/T Properties of Compounds

ABSTRACT

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) occurs in genetically prone men and women and is defined by pattern-related, non-scarring hair follicle shrinkage. It is estimated that up to 80% of men and 50% of women will be affected by AGA at some stage in their lives. The underlying pathophysiology may be traced back to the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more powerful androgen, and its accumulation in hair follicles leads to hair loss. The therapeutic approach for treating AGA mainly relies on the inhibition of 5-alpha- reductase. Allium cepa (onion) extract is in trend as a natural remedy for the treatment of AGA. The study aims at in-silico and ADME/T analysis of active compounds present in onion extract against 5-alpha-reductase to evaluate and visualize protein-ligand interaction.