Methanol Extract of Peach Kernel Induces Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation via the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling Pathway

The study explores the impact of methanol extract of peach kernel (PME) on human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs), finding that PME significantly boosts cell viability and proliferation. This is achieved by upregulating cell cycle-related proteins, facilitating cell cycle transitions, and activating the ERK and Akt signaling pathways, with the ERK pathway being particularly important for cell growth regulation. The research suggests that PME could be a promising agent for promoting hair growth by stimulating dermal papilla cell proliferation, and highlights the potential of peach kernel as a hair growth supplement due to its bioactive components. However, further research is needed to pinpoint the specific components responsible for these effects, and external application is recommended over oral administration.