Induction of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I by Cepharanthine from Dermal Papilla Cells: A Novel Potential Pathway for Hair Growth Stimulation

The study from 2013 investigated the effects of cepharanthine (CEP) on hair growth, focusing on its ability to induce insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) in dermal papilla cells (DPC) from three male patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The results showed that CEP at 0.1 µg/mL significantly increased both IGF-I mRNA expression and IGF-I protein secretion in DPC cultures. These findings suggest that CEP could stimulate hair growth by enhancing IGF-I production, presenting a potential new treatment for AGA and other hair loss conditions. The authors propose that topical application of CEP may be an effective method for combating hair loss.