Deciphering the Skin Anti-Aging and Hair Growth Promoting Mechanisms of Opophytum Forskahlii Seed Oil via Network Pharmacology
December 2025
in “
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
”
Opophytum forskahlii seed oil linoleic acid oleic acid fibroblast proliferation collagenase elastase COX-1 COX-2 minoxidil PPARG ESR1 IL6 hair follicle antioxidant defenses collagen production inflammation modulation OFSO Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma Estrogen receptor 1 Interleukin 6
Studysummary In this study, O. forskahlii seed oil was found to promote hair growth in rats and exhibit anti-aging effects on human skin cells by enhancing fibroblast proliferation and inhibiting inflammation and enzyme activity, indicating potential for cosmetic use. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study explores the potential of Opophytum forskahlii seed oil (OFSO) in promoting hair growth and combating skin aging. Rich in linoleic and oleic acids, OFSO enhances fibroblast proliferation, inhibits skin aging enzymes, and shows anti-inflammatory activity. In a study with adult male Wistar rats, OFSO outperformed minoxidil, leading to almost complete hair coverage and increased hair follicle numbers after 14 days. Network pharmacology identified key genes like PPARG, ESR1, and IL6, indicating OFSO's role in regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and tissue regeneration. These findings suggest OFSO as a promising natural cosmeceutical for skin and hair health, though further validation in humans is needed.
