A Soy-Derived Immunostimulating Peptide Inhibits Etoposide-Induced Alopecia in Neonatal Rats

The study explored the impact of soymetide-4, a soy-derived peptide, on preventing etoposide-induced hair loss in neonatal rats. Administered orally at 300 mg/kg for 8 days, soymetide-4 nearly completely prevented alopecia caused by the anticancer drug etoposide, outperforming soymetide-13 in oral tests and stimulating TNFα production. While fMLP was effective when injected, it was not effective orally. The findings indicated that soymetide-4 could be a promising oral anti-alopecia treatment, with further research needed to enhance its potency for potential use in adults and humans.