The condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, which causes enlargement in the prostate gland and
male pattern hair loss are both treated with a family of drugs known as 5 alpha reductase inhibitors. This
study shows that Solanum nigrum L. has 5 alpha reductase inhibitory action, that is helpful in the treatment
of androgenic diseases. It was carried out to screen for phytochemicals and to analyze high-performance thin
layer chromatography. Using petroleum ether and methanol extract, the 5 alpha reductase inhibitory activity
of the plant was compared to the renowned 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride. The inhibition of extracts
to the enzyme was assessed using a biochemical approach to measure the activity of 5 alpha-reductase. Because
the substrate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate has a particular absorbance at 340 nm, the optical
density value of each sample was monitored with an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate concentration rises over time in the presence of a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor because
the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase needs nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as a substrate. Thus, this
technique implies 5 alpha-reductase activity. The method was quite successful in evaluating the plant capacity
to block 5 alpha-reductase. It was determined that Solanum nigrum L. petroleum ether extract 125.528±0.634
(μg/ml) and linoleic acid (chemical biomarker of the plant material) 89.672±0.669 (μg/ml) were promising
candidates for future investigation into their anti-androgenic activities.