Effects of Parthenolide on Androgenetic Alopecia in Mice and Human Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells

In a 2008 study, researchers examined the effects of parthenolide (PTH) on androgenetic alopecia (AGA) through experiments on 64 C3H/He male mice and human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). The mice treated with PTH experienced significantly faster hair growth than the control group on days 15, 17, and 19 after their back hair was shaved. The in vitro experiments showed no significant differences in cell proliferation between PTH-treated HFDPCs, a control medium, or dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated cells. However, the DHT group had higher levels of NF-kB p65 protein, indicating a possible new pathway related to AGA. The study concluded that PTH promotes hair growth in vivo and may affect AGA-related pathways.