Alcohol Extract from Vernonia Anthelmintica Seed Counteracts Stress-Induced Murine Hair Follicle Growth Inhibition

In 2019, a study was conducted on the effects of alcohol extract from Vernonia anthelmintica (AVE), a traditional Chinese herb, on stress-induced hair growth inhibition in male C57BL/6 mice. The results showed that AVE counteracted hair follicle growth inhibition by inducing the conversion of telogen to anagen, inhibiting premature catagen, increasing bulb keratinocytes and bulge stem cells proliferation, and promoting melanogenesis. AVE also reduced the numbers of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide nerve fibers, and down-regulated the protein expression of NK-1R, a receptor for substance P. The study concluded that AVE could potentially be used as a treatment for stress-induced hair loss and human alopecia caused by psychoemotional stress.