[Lotus]

LR oxidizes NAPDH and inhibits P450 enzymes,  what's more interesting (imo) is the latter part. Meaning I see LR inhibiting aromatase, not potentiating it. Oh sure LR binds to estrogen receptors, but that's where I think it ends. My reasoning is what it isn't doing to the P450 enzyme, (I.e. not synthesizing it). 

I will say this, I have tried spiro/licorice root (though in DGL form) and it's (dgl form) too strong for me. I'm not a big fan of spiro, though I like the fact it's 90% protein bound and goes active in 30-60 minutes with a not so bad half life. But........I believe it's also a partial anti-aromatase (which I had the other way around a few years ago). So,  as you'll see attached " Resihi PDF " clearly states being a dual inhibitor in human tissue,  making it an alternative imo.

What many don't know about phytoestrogens is that in some forms it's stronger than E2- Estradiol, where one can find what's used in HRT. 

Agonistic and antagonistic estrogens in licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)


Several fractions displayed higher responses than the maximum response obtained with the reference compound, the natural hormone 17β-estradiol (E2).


The roots of licorice are a rich source of flavonoids, in particular, prenylated flavonoids, such as the isoflavan glabridin and the isoflavene glabrene. Fractionation of an ethyl acetate extract from licorice root by centrifugal partitioning chromatography yielded 51 fractions. 
One third of the fractions displayed estrogenic activity towards either one or both estrogen receptors (ERs; ERα and ERβ). Glabrene-rich fractions displayed an estrogenic response, predominantly to the ERα. Surprisingly, glabridin did not exert agonistic activity to both ER subtypes. Several fractions displayed higher responses than the maximum response obtained with the reference compound, the natural hormone 17β-estradiol (E2). The estrogenic activities of all fractions, including this so-called superinduction, were clearly ER-mediated, as the estrogenic response was inhibited by 20–60% by known ER antagonists. Most fractions displaying superinduction were rich in flavonoids with single prenylation. Glabridin displayed ERα-selective antagonism, similar to the ERα-selective antagonist RU 58668. Whereas glabridin was able to reduce the estrogenic response of E2 by approximately 80% at 6 × 10−6 M, glabrene-rich fractions only exhibited agonistic responses, preferentially on ERα.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...po=7.50000

It's very tricky stuff, imo it should only be used under medical supervision. 

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Spiro-is also used as a 5ar inhibitor, although not as strong as finasteride or dutas. 

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Ben May Institute for Cancer Research, and The Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research MC6027, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

The enzyme steroid 5 alpha-reductase (EC 1.3.99.5) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of the double bond of a variety of 3-oxo-Delta(4) steroids including the conversion of testosterone to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. In humans, 5 alpha-reductase activity is critical for certain aspects of male sexual differentiation, and may be involved in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, alopecia, hirsutism, and prostate cancer. Certain natural products contain components that are inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase, such as the green tea catechin (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG shows potent inhibition in cell-free but not in whole-cell assays of 5 alpha-reductase. Replacement of the gallate ester in EGCG with long-chain fatty acids produced potent 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors that were active in both cell-free and whole-cell assay systems. Other flavonoids that were potent inhibitors of the type 1 5alpha-reductase include myricetin, quercitin, baicalein, and fisetin. Biochanin A, daidzein, genistein, and kaempferol were much better inhibitors of the type 2 than the type 1 isozyme. Several other natural and synthetic polyphenolic compounds were more effective inhibitors of the type 1 than the type 2 isozyme, including alizarin, anthrarobin, gossypol, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, and octyl and dodecyl gallates. The presence of a catechol group was characteristic of almost all inhibitors that showed selectivity for the type 1 isozyme of 5 alpha-reductase. Since some of these compounds are consumed as part of the normal diet or in supplements, they have the potential to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase activity, which may be useful for the prevention or treatment of androgen-dependent disorders. However, these compounds also may adversely affect male sexual differentiation.


The extracts of Ganoderma lucidum inhibited both types of 5 alpha-reductase, a so-called dual inhibition that might be advantageous for the therapy of BPH, since it has been shown that the dual inhibitor dutasteride is more powerful in reducing the DHT plasma concentration than selective type 1 or type 2 inhibitors (Graul et al., 1999)

Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum

http://reishi.setamed.com/articulos/art20.pd