Hot Water Extract of Oriental Melon Leaf Promotes Hair Growth and Prolongs Anagen Hair Cycle: In Vivo and In Vitro Evaluation

In 2016, a study demonstrated that hot water extracts of oriental melon leaf (OML) have a positive effect on hair growth. The in vivo study with C57BL/6 mice, using 6 mice per group, showed that OML extract shortened the telogen phase and enhanced hair growth. In vitro tests with human hair follicles, using 6 donor samples from 4 individuals, revealed that an 8-day treatment with OML extract prolonged the anagen phase and increased cell proliferation in the hair follicle bulb region. The study concluded that OML extract could be a potential therapeutic agent for hair loss prevention. For hair cycle scoring, 9 hair follicles per group were used, and for Ki-67 analysis, which measures proliferation, 6 hair follicles per group were used. Further research is recommended to identify the active components of the OML extract.