Annurca Apple Polyphenols Ignite Keratin Production in Hair Follicles by Inhibiting the Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Amino Acid Oxidation

The study explored the impact of Annurca Apple Polyphenolic Extract (AAE) on hair follicles (HFs) and discovered that AAE promotes keratin production by altering HF metabolism. The treatment with AAE in murine HFs led to a metabolic shift that inhibited NADPH-dependent reactions like the pentose phosphate pathway and glutaminolysis, while enhancing mitochondrial respiration and ß-oxidation. This shift preserved amino acids for keratin synthesis rather than oxidation. The study, which used a sample size of 8 mice for SEM quantitative analysis and 15 measurements for metabolite analysis, concluded that AAE can stimulate hair growth by reprogramming HF metabolism, potentially offering a nutraceutical solution for patterned hair loss. The study did not provide the specific number of mice used overall.