Hinokitiol, a Natural Tropolone Derivative, Inhibits TNF-Alpha Production in LPS-Activated Macrophages via Suppression of NF-Kappa B

In this study, hinokitiol (HK) was found to inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in LPS-activated macrophage-like cells, which is significant for reducing skin inflammation and hair follicle apoptosis. HK suppressed TNF-α at the transcriptional level and down-regulated the phosphorylation of PDK1, Akt/PKB, and ERK, leading to decreased NF-κB activation. These findings suggested that HK could potentially treat hair loss by reducing factors that cause follicular apoptosis and promoting new hair growth.