Sodium Pentaborate Pentahydrate Promotes Hair Growth Through the Wnt/Beta-Catenin Pathway and Growth Factors

The study evaluated the effects of sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB) on hair growth in 35 Sprague-Dawley/Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into five groups, with varying doses of NaB. The study found that NaB 1 mg and 2 mg B/kg supplementation induced the anagen (growth) phase in rats via Wnt-1, β-catenin, VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-β1 signaling pathways, which are important molecular mechanisms involved in hair growth. However, NaB 4 mg B/kg suppressed these pathways and adversely affected hair growth. Hair density increased by 90.9% in the NaB 4 mg group, and follicle diameter increased in all NaB groups. The study concludes that boron, the element in NaB, can promote hair growth at appropriate doses but may negatively affect hair growth in high doses.