A Proprietary Lipidosterolic Extract of Serenoa Repens Promotes Hair Growth Through Mechanisms That Extend Beyond 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibition: Insights From Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture

October 2025 in “ International Journal of Cosmetic Science ”

David Broadley, Alizée Le Riche, Samuel Guénin, Francisco Campuzano Jiménez, Leigh Vinocur, Janin Edelkamp, Marta Bertolini

lipidosterolic extract Serenoa repens USPlus® DERM 5-alpha reductase 5-αR saw palmetto anagen phase hair follicle stem cell niche dermal papilla androgenetic alopecia

TLDR USPlus® DERM may help hair growth and reduce hair loss.

The study investigates the effects of a proprietary lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens, known as USPlus® DERM, on hair growth, focusing on mechanisms beyond 5-alpha reductase (5-αR) inhibition. USPlus® DERM demonstrated more potent 5-αR inhibition compared to standard saw palmetto extracts. In ex vivo experiments with human hair follicles, USPlus® DERM at a concentration of 0.4 μg/mL reduced stress indicators and prolonged the anagen phase, suggesting enhanced hair growth. It also showed potential in reinforcing the hair follicle stem cell niche without affecting dermal papilla inductivity. These findings indicate that USPlus® DERM could be a promising anti-hair loss treatment for androgenetic alopecia and other hair loss disorders, warranting further investigation.

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