Hair-Growth Promoting Effect of Grateloupia Elliptica via the Activation of Wnt Pathway

Eight years ago, a study was conducted on the hair growth-promoting effect of Grateloupia elliptica, a marine algae. The study found that the extract of G. elliptica significantly increased hair-fiber lengths in isolated rat vibrissa follicles and accelerated the telogen-anagen transition in C57BL/6 mice, suggesting a potential for promoting hair growth. The molecular mechanisms behind this effect were also investigated, revealing that the extract activated the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway, known to regulate hair follicle development and hair growth. This activation led to an increase in b-catenin and phospho-GSK3b, as well as an increase in the level of cyclin E and CDK2, while decreasing the level of p27kip1. These results suggest that G. elliptica extract may induce hair growth by promoting the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) via cell-cycle progression and the activation of the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway.