Meloside A Protects Dermal Papilla Cells from DHT-Induced Damage via Androgen Receptor Modulation

The study explores the effects of Meloside A, derived from Cucumis melo var. makuwa leaf extract, on human dermal papilla cells (HDPCs) affected by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a key factor in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Meloside A significantly reduced DHT-induced apoptosis in HDPCs by 57.74% at 1000 ppm and inhibited androgen receptor (AR) nuclear translocation and protein expression. It also decreased the expression of genes like IL-6, TGF-β1, and DKK-1, associated with AGA, and reduced reactive oxygen species generation by 45.45% at 100 ppm. These results suggest that Meloside A could be a promising therapeutic agent for AGA by modulating AR activity and gene expression, offering a potential alternative to treatments like minoxidil and finasteride. However, the findings are based on in vitro models, and further research is needed to confirm its efficacy in more complex systems.