Promotion Effect of Apo-9'-Fucoxanthinone from Sargassum Muticum on Hair Growth via the Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and VEGF-R2

The study explored the hair growth-promoting effects of Sargassum muticum extract and its active component, apo-9'-fucoxanthinone. It was found that the extract significantly increased hair fiber length in rat vibrissa follicles and enhanced the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which are essential for hair growth. Additionally, the extract reduced the activity of 5α-reductase, an enzyme linked to androgenetic alopecia. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of the extract was particularly effective in these processes. In vivo, the EtOAc fraction induced the anagen phase of hair growth in mice. Apo-9'-fucoxanthinone was identified as the component responsible for inhibiting 5α-reductase activity and increasing DPC proliferation, as well as activating the Wnt/β-catenin and VEGF-R2 pathways, which are crucial for hair growth. The study concluded that S. muticum extract and apo-9'-fucoxanthinone could be potential treatments for hair growth and androgenetic alopecia, with the potential to combine the benefits of minoxidil and finasteride. The number of subjects used in the study was not specified.