Cucurbitacin Promotes Hair Growth in Mice by Inhibiting the Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor 18

October 2022 in “ Annals of Translational Medicine ”

Keke Guo, Lusheng Wang, Yulan Zhong, Shuang Gao, Rongrong Jing, Jiabin Ye, Kaini Zhang, Mengli Fu, Zhenlin Hu, Wengang Zhao, Na Xu

cucurbitacin fibroblast growth factor 18 FGF18 hair follicles resting phase growth phase minoxidil Cucurbitaceae Rogaine

Studysummary This study found that cucurbitacin cream reduced FGF18 levels and accelerated hair follicle transition to the anagen phase in mice, suggesting its potential as a treatment for hair regeneration. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study involved 20 male C57BL/6J mice and investigated the effects of cucurbitacin, a compound from Cucurbitaceae plants, on hair growth. The compound was found to promote hair growth by inhibiting the expression of fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18), a protein that keeps hair follicles in the resting phase. The cucurbitacin-treated group showed a significant transition of hair follicles from the resting phase to the growth phase, and this effect was 1,000 times stronger than minoxidil, a common hair growth drug. The cucurbitacin cream also shortened the resting phase of hair follicles by 3 days, leading to earlier appearance of black patches and thicker hair. These findings suggest cucurbitacin could be a potential treatment for hair loss.

View this study on atm.amegroups.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

27 / 27 results

research Hair Growth-Promoting Effect of Resveratrol in Mice, Human Hair Follicles, and Dermal Papilla Cells

11 citations , November 2021 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

This study found that resveratrol promoted hair growth in mice and human hair follicles, suggesting its potential as a treatment for hair loss.

Hair Growth-Promoting Mechanisms of Red Ginseng Extract Through Stimulating Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation and Enhancing Skin Health

research Hair Growth-Promoting Mechanisms of Red Ginseng Extract Through Stimulating Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation and Enhancing Skin Health

3 citations , September 2021 in “Journal of Food Science and Nutrition”

This study found that red ginseng extract may stimulate hair growth in a mouse model by enhancing dermal papilla cell proliferation and activating skin antioxidant defenses.

research Morus Alba Root Extract Induces the Anagen Phase in Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells

28 citations , July 2021 in “Pharmaceutics”

This study found that Morus alba root extract activates β-catenin in hair follicle dermal papilla cells, promoting the transition to the anagen phase and enhancing hair growth factor secretion.

research Suppression of FGF5 and FGF18 Expression by Cholesterol-Modified siRNAs Promotes Hair Growth in Mice

9 citations , July 2021 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology”

This study found that intradermal injection of cholesterol-modified siRNA targeting FGF5 or FGF18, or topical application of FGF18-targeted siRNA, effectively influenced hair follicle cycles in mice, suggesting potential benefits for alopecia management.

Screening of Hair Growth Promoting Activity of Punica Granatum L. (Pomegranate) Leaves Extracts and Its Potential to Exhibit Antidandruff and Anti-Lice Effect

research Screening of Hair Growth Promoting Activity of Punica Granatum L. (Pomegranate) Leaves Extracts and Its Potential to Exhibit Antidandruff and Anti-Lice Effect

14 citations , April 2021 in “Heliyon”

This study found that both alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Punica granatum L. showed potential for promoting hair growth and exhibited anti-lice and antidandruff activities in a mouse model.

research Functional Hair Follicle Regeneration: An Updated Review

42 citations , February 2021 in “Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy”

This review discusses potential cell sources and bioengineering strategies for regenerating hair follicles with functional cycling, reporting no new results.

research Side Effects of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Treating Alopecia

6 citations , January 2021 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This letter discusses adverse events related to low-dose oral minoxidil for alopecia, highlighting age-related risks and stressing the importance of contraindication awareness with no new clinical results presented.

research Investigation of Suicidality and Psychological Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Finasteride

40 citations , November 2020 in “JAMA Dermatology”

This pharmacovigilance study found an increased association of suicidality and psychological adverse events with finasteride use, especially among younger patients using it for alopecia.

research Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss

86 citations , July 2020 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”

This review discusses the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hair follicle regeneration and highlights recent progress in developing hair loss treatments targeting this pathway, but reports no new clinical results.

research Eclipta Prostrata Promotes the Induction of Anagen, Sustains the Anagen Phase Through Regulation of FGF-7 and FGF-5

7 citations , January 2019 in “Pharmaceutical Biology”

This study suggests that Eclipta prostrata may promote hair growth in mice and human dermal papilla cells through regulating FGF-7 and mTOR signaling.

research The Hair Follicle Enigma

25 citations , March 2017 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review discusses various aspects of hair follicle biology and highlights unresolved questions and potential new research avenues, but presents no new experimental findings.

Artepillin C and Other Herbal PAK1-Blockers: Effects on Hair Cell Proliferation and Related PAK1-Dependent Biological Function in Cell Culture

research Artepillin C and Other Herbal PAK1-Blockers: Effects on Hair Cell Proliferation and Related PAK1-Dependent Biological Function in Cell Culture

23 citations , November 2015 in “Phytotherapy Research”

This study found that cucurbitacin I from bitter melon most effectively inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells and promoted hair cell growth in cell cultures.

research Fibroblast Growth Factors Stimulate Hair Growth Through Beta-Catenin and Shh Expression in C57BL/6 Mice

64 citations , January 2015 in “BioMed Research International”

In this study, topical application of fibroblast growth factors was found to promote hair growth by inducing and prolonging the anagen phase in telogenic C57BL/6 mice, suggesting potential as hair growth-promoting agents.

research Emerging Treatments in Alopecia

47 citations , October 2014 in “Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs”

This review discusses emerging treatments and mechanisms for alopecia, highlighting potential therapies like janus kinase inhibitors and advances in stem-cell technology, but reports no new experimental results.

research Fgf9 From Dermal γδ T Cells Induces Hair Follicle Neogenesis After Wounding

237 citations , June 2013 in “Nature Medicine”

This study found that fibroblast growth factor 9, initially secreted by γδ T cells, plays a key role in modulating hair follicle regeneration in mice after skin wounds.

research Hair Cycle Resting Phase Is Regulated by Cyclic Epithelial FGF18 Signaling

158 citations , February 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

FGF18 helps keep hair in its resting phase, affecting hair growth cycles.

research Finasteride

10 citations , June 2010 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology”

This review discusses the development and trials of finasteride for prostate cancer prevention, reporting reduced cancer prevalence but noting concerns about increased high-grade cancer incidence.

research Alopecia Areata: Evidence-Based Treatments

71 citations , March 2009 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery”

This review discusses evidence for alopecia areata treatments, highlighting their ability to stimulate hair growth but noting limited data on long-term efficacy and impact on quality of life.

research The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Mini-Organ

759 citations , February 2009 in “Current Biology”

This review summarizes fundamental concepts and recent advancements in hair follicle biology, including insights from mouse models into broader molecular and cellular processes relevant to regeneration and development.

research Defining Hair Follicles in the Age of Stem Cell Bioengineering

49 citations , September 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

The study found that bioengineered hair follicles work when using cells from the same species but have issues when combining human and mouse cells.

research The Hair Cycle

375 citations , February 2006 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This article reviews the stages and regulation of the hair cycle, highlighting molecular regulators involved, but it does not present new research findings.

research Hair Follicle Pigmentation: Mechanisms and Factors Influencing Melanin Production

450 citations , January 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This article reviews follicular melanogenesis, detailing how melanin synthesis and its regulation in hair follicles depend on a complex interplay of cellular and molecular mechanisms, but reports no new clinical findings.

research Androgens and Alopecia

165 citations , December 2002 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”

This study found that finasteride improves scalp hair growth in men with male pattern hair loss by reducing scalp dihydrotestosterone levels, but it did not benefit postmenopausal women with female pattern hair loss.

research Hair Growth Effect of Minoxidil

25 citations , January 2002 in “Folia Pharmacologica Japonica”

This article reviews the proposed mechanism of minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia, suggesting it may prolong the anagen phase by modulating cell growth factors and vascular activity, but reports no new results.

research The Biology of Hair Follicles

1113 citations , August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

This article discusses the biologic and psychosocial significance of hair, the current limitations in hair growth drugs, and anticipates future therapies based on advancing hair follicle research.

research Keratinocyte Growth Factor Is an Important Endogenous Mediator of Hair Follicle Growth, Development, and Differentiation. Normalization of the Nu/Nu Follicular Differentiation Defect and Amelioration of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia.

219 citations , July 1995 in “PubMed”

This study found that recombinant keratinocyte growth factor (rKGF) stimulated hair growth and provided a protective effect against alopecia in murine models, suggesting its role in hair follicle development and regeneration.

research The Secret Life of the Hair Follicle

745 citations , February 1992 in “Trends in genetics”

This article describes the potential role of various growth factors and molecules in regulating mammalian hair follicle development but does not present new experimental results.