18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Promotes Hair Growth by Stimulating the Proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells and Outer Root Sheath Cells, and Extends the Anagen Phase by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase

July 2024 in “ Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin ”

Kenta Hagiwara, Akinori Kiso, Shogo Ono, Hiroaki Kitamura, H Yamanishi, Yuki Tsunekawa, Tokuro Iwabuchi

18-β-Glycyrrhetinic acid licorice dermal papilla cells outer root sheath cells testosterone 5α-reductase dihydroandrogen TGF-β1 anagen phase androgenetic alopecia 5-alpha-reductase DHT hair growth phase male pattern baldness

TLDR Licorice extract helps hair growth and may treat hair loss.

18-β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, derived from licorice, promotes hair growth by stimulating the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and outer root sheath cells from human hair follicles. It inhibits testosterone 5α-reductase with an IC50 of 137.1 µM, reducing the conversion of androgen to dihydroandrogen. Additionally, it suppresses TGF-β1 expression, potentially prolonging the anagen phase of the hair cycle. These findings suggest that 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic acid could be an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia.

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Research cited in this study

10 / 10 results

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3 / 3 results

18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Promotes Hair Growth by Stimulating the Proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells and Outer Root Sheath Cells, and Extends the Anagen Phase by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase

research 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Promotes Hair Growth by Stimulating the Proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells and Outer Root Sheath Cells, and Extends the Anagen Phase by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase

July 2024 in “Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin”

Licorice extract helps hair growth and may treat hair loss.

Prolactin and Its Receptor Are Expressed in Murine Hair Follicle Epithelium, Show Hair Cycle-Dependent Expression, and Induce Catagen

research Prolactin and Its Receptor Are Expressed in Murine Hair Follicle Epithelium, Show Hair Cycle-Dependent Expression, and Induce Catagen

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research An Estrogen Receptor Pathway Regulates the Telogen-Anagen Hair Follicle Transition and Influences Epidermal Cell Proliferation

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18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Promotes Hair Growth by Stimulating the Proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells and Outer Root Sheath Cells, and Extends the Anagen Phase by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase

Research cited in this study

research Ginsenosides in Panax Ginseng Extract Promote Anagen Transition by Suppressing BMP4 Expression and Promote Human Hair Growth by Stimulating Follicle-Cell Proliferation

research Alopecia Types, Current and Future Treatment

research 18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid: Its Core Biological Properties and Dermatological Applications

research Safety and Tolerability of the Dual 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

research Improvement of Androgenetic Alopecia with Topical Sophora Flavescens Aiton Extract, and Identification of the Two Active Compounds in the Extract That Stimulate Proliferation of Human Hair Keratinocytes

research Androgen Actions on the Human Hair Follicle: Perspectives

research Androgens and Hair Growth

research Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Inhibits Epithelial Cell Growth: A Clue to Understanding Paradoxical Effects of Androgen on Human Hair Growth

research A Comparison of the Culture and Growth of Dermal Papilla Cells from Hair Follicles from Non-Balding and Balding (Androgenetic Alopecia) Scalp

research Growth of the Hair

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