Effect of Cuscuta Reflexa Roxb on Androgen-Induced Alopecia

In 2008, a study examined the petroleum ether extract of Cuscuta reflexa (C. reflexa) for its potential to treat androgen-induced alopecia in male Swiss albino mice. The mice were treated with testosterone to induce alopecia and then given the extract. The results showed that the extract significantly increased hair follicular density and the anagen/telogen ratio, indicating enhanced hair growth and reduced hair loss. The extract and an isolated compound, CR-1, were found to inhibit the 5α-reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a key factor in androgen-induced alopecia. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent, with IC50 values of 1.78 mg for the extract, 9.19 µg for CR-1, and 0.77 µg for finasteride, a known 5α-reductase inhibitor. The study concluded that C. reflexa extract and CR-1 could be promising treatments for androgen-induced alopecia and potentially other androgen-dependent conditions.