The present invention includes compounds pharmaceuticals and cosmetics having at least one (substituted phenyl) propenal moiety. The compounds and compositions of the present invention are useful in the treatment or prevention of medical conditions including androgen associated conditions androgen associated inflammation a wound (the compounds assist with wound healing) acne rheumatoid arthritis psoriasis rosacea and alopecia; Kennedy s disease (spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy or SBMA) polyglutamine mediated motor neuron degeneration; cancers such as prostate cancer bladder cancer breast cancer ovarian cancer hepatocellular (liver) cancer and pancreatic cancer; and other medical conditions described herein. Treatment of such medical conditions includes administering to an individual suffering from a medical condition describe herein a therapeutically effective amount of any of the disclosed compounds their derivatives or pharmaceutical compositions thereof.