In Thai folklore wisdom, shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) was applied as a traditional herbal medicine for hair growth promotion with no scientific evidence. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a progressive hair loss caused by multiple factors, including androgen hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Conventional medicines (finasteride, dutasteride, corticosteroids, and minoxidil) have been used with limited therapeutic efficacy and unpleasant side effects. In this study, we aimed to give the first estimation of bioactive compounds in shallot extract and evaluate the hair growth-promoting activities regarding anti-inflammatory and gene expression modulation involving androgen, Wnt/β-catenin, sonic hedgehog, and angiogenesis pathways. The results reveal that phenolic compounds (quercetin, rosmarinic, and p-coumaric acids) are the major constituents of the methanolic shallot extract. Compared with the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated control group (2.68 ± 0.13 µM), nitric oxide production was remarkably diminished by shallot extract (0.55 ± 0.06 µM). Shallot extract improves hair growth promotion activity, as reflected by the downregulation of the androgen gene expression (SRD5A1 and SRD5A2) and the upregulation of the genes associated with Wnt/β-catenin (CTNNB1), sonic hedgehog (SHH, SMO, and GIL1), and angiogenesis (VEGF) pathways. These findings disclose the new insights of shallot extract on hair growth promotions. Shallot extract could be further developed as nutraceutical, nutricosmetic, and cosmeceutical preparations for AGA treatment.

Leaves of guava (Psidium guajava L.) have been used in Thai folk medicine without any supporting evidence as a traditional herbal remedy for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is chronic hair loss caused by effects of androgens in those with a genetic predisposition, resulting in hair follicle miniaturization. Our objectives were to provide the mechanistic assessment of guava leaf extract on gene expressions related to the androgen pathway in well-known in vitro models, hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), and human prostate cancer cells (DU-145), and to determine its bioactive constituents and antioxidant activities. LC-MS analysis demonstrated that the main components of the ethanolic extract of guava leaves are phenolic substances, specifically catechin, gallic acid, and quercetin, which contribute to its scavenging and metal chelating abilities. The guava leaf extract substantially downregulated SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and SRD5A3 genes in the DU-145 model, suggesting that the extract could minimize hair loss by inhibiting the synthesis of a potent androgen (dihydrotestosterone). SRD5A suppression by gallic acid and quercetin was verified. Our study reveals new perspectives on guava leaf extract’s anti-androgen properties. This extract could be developed as alternative products or therapeutic adjuvants for the treatment of AGA and other androgen-related disorders.

Coffee has been a common ingredient in many traditional hair loss remedies, but limited scientific evidence supports its use, particularly in coffee pulp. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is caused by androgens, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In the present study, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used under various conditions to obtain six coffee pulp extracts. The SFE-4 extract, using 50% (v/v) ethanol as a co-solvent at conditions of 100 °C and 500 bars for 30 min, exhibited the highest phenolic, flavonoid, and caffeine contents. Additionally, the SFE-4 extract increased the migration and cell proliferation of HFDPCs (human hair follicle dermal papilla cells), which control hair cycle regulation, and had scavenging effects on ABTS and DPPH radicals. Additionally, the SFE-4 extract showed potassium ion channel opener activity in HFDPCs, as well as a stimulation effect on the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (28.53 ± 1.08% of control), which may be related to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene upregulation. In human prostate cancer cells (DU-145) and HFDPC cells, the SFE-4 extract significantly decreased the expression of SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and SRD5A3, an essential pathway involved in AGA. Hair growth factor genes in the Wnt/-catenin (CTNNB1) and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH, SMO, and GLI1) pathways could be significantly activated by the SFE-4 extract. These results imply that employing SFE in coffee pulp extraction could help AGA treatment by preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth pathways. This would help small coffee producers gain economic empowerment and ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural waste utilization.

The aim of this study is to identify the effects of KDML105 bran extract on gene expression involving the hair cycle in HFDPCs and investigate its bioactive constituents, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The content of tocopherols, γ-oryzanol, phytic acid, and phenolic compounds was quantified by liquid chromatography. Free fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography. Antioxidant capacities were estimated by DPPH, ABTS, and metal chelating assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess reaction. Gene expression was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The major compounds in the extract were α- and γ-tocopherol, phytic acid, γ-oryzanol, chlorogenic acid, o-coumaric acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, giving its antioxidant capacities. The nitrite level in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages (2.76 ± 0.13 μM) was significantly mitigated by the extract (0.81 ± 0.11 μM). Additionally, SRD5A2 and TGFB1 expressions in HFDPCs were downregulated, whereas CTNNB1 and VEGF genes were upregulated after treatment with the extract. KDML105 extract ameliorated oxidative stress and NO production. According to the gene expression study, KDML105 bran extract may be involved in the induction and maintenance of the anagen phase and angiogenesis in the hair growth pathway. Therefore, KDML105 bran extract might be a promising source of anti-hair loss substances.

Alopecia and gray hair are common hair abnormalities affecting physical appearance and causing psychological problems. Chemical treatments partially restore hair disorders but have distressing side effects. Bioactive plant compounds constitute promising sources of potential medicinal substances instead of chemical agents, producing high side effects. In this study, we focused on the waste of local rice cultivars: Bue Bang 3 CMU (BB3CMU) and Bue Bang 4 CMU (BB4CMU) from the north of Thailand. The rice bran oil (RBO), defatted rice bran extract (DFRB), and rice husk (H) were determined for in vitro hair revitalization in melanin production, nitric oxide (NO) secretion, and steroid 5α-reductase inhibition. The results indicated that BB4CMU-RBO with high contents of iron, zinc, and free fatty acids showed a comparable induction of melanin production on melanocytes (130.18 ± 9.13% of control) to the standard drug theophylline with no significant difference (p > 0.05). This promising melanin induction could be related to activating the NO secretion pathway, with the NO secretion level at 1.43 ± 0.05 µM. In addition, BB4CMU-RBO illustrated a significant inhibitory effect on both steroid 5α-reductase genes (SRD5A) type 1 and type 2, which relates to its primary source of tocopherols. Hence, rice bran oil from the Thai rice variety BB4CMU could be applied as a promising hair revitalizing candidate, from natural resources, to help promote hair growth and re-pigmentation effects.

Datura metel L. (thorn apple) has been used in Thai folk wisdom for wound care. In this study, we chose supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (scCO₂) to develop crude extraction from the leaves of the thorn apple. The phytochemical profiles were observed using liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). The biological activities of D. metel were performed through antioxidant assays, anti-inflammation based on the Griess reaction, the migration assay, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and regulatory genes in fibroblasts. Dm1 and Dm2 extracts were obtained from scCO₂ procedures at different pressures of 300 and 500 bar, respectively. Bioactive compounds, including farnesyl acetone, schisanhenol B, and loliolide, were identified in both extracts. The antioxidant properties of both D. metel extracts were comparable to those of l-ascorbic acid in hydrogen peroxide-induced fibroblasts with no significant difference. Additionally, Dm1 and Dm2 significantly inhibited the nitrite production levels of 1.23 ± 0.19 and 1.52 ± 0.05 μM, respectively, against the lipopolysaccharide-treated group (3.82 ± 0.39 μM). Interestingly, Dm1 obviously demonstrated the percentage of wound closure with 58.46 ± 7.61 and 82.62 ± 6.66% after 36 and 48 h of treatment, which were comparable to the commercial deproteinized dialysate from the calf blood extract. Moreover, both extracts were comparable to l-ascorbic acid treatment in their ability to suppress the expression of MMP-2: an enzyme that breaks down collagen. The gene expressions of SHH, SMO, and GLI1 that control the sonic hedgehog pathway were also clearly upregulated by Dm1. Consequently, the scCO₂ technique could be applied in D. metel extraction and contribute to potentially effective wound closure.