6-Gingerol Inhibits Hair Cycle via Induction of MMP2 and MMP9 Expression

January 2017

CHUN HOU, Yong Miao, Hang Ji, SUSHENG WANG, Gang Liang, Zhihua Zhang, Wei‐Jin Hong

6-Gingerol MMP2 MMP9 hair cycle hair growth hair follicle EGF KGF VEGF IGF-1 TGF-β ginger

TLDR 6-Gingerol can slow down hair growth by affecting certain proteins.

The study investigated the effects of 6-Gingerol, a major component of ginger, on hair growth in mice. Mice were divided into groups and treated with saline or varying concentrations of 6-Gingerol after hair removal. The findings revealed that 6-Gingerol, particularly at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, significantly inhibited hair growth by reducing hair re-growth ratio, hair follicle number, and hair follicle length. This suppression was linked to increased expression of MMP2 and MMP9. Additionally, 6-Gingerol decreased the concentrations of growth factors EGF, KGF, VEGF, and IGF-1, while increasing TGF-β concentration, suggesting its potential role as a hair growth suppressive agent by interfering with the hair cycle.

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