A Mixture of Tocopherol Acetate and L-Menthol Synergistically Promotes Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice

The study from December 18, 2020, found that a topical mixture of tocopherol acetate, L-menthol, and stevioside significantly promoted hair growth in C57BL/6 mice, more effectively than when tocopherol acetate or L-menthol were used alone. The mixture showed a greater effect on hair growth within 4 weeks compared to the control group or those treated with 3% minoxidil. Transcriptome analysis indicated that tocopherol acetate and L-menthol upregulated genes associated with hair growth, while stevioside alone did not promote hair growth in vivo, despite its in vitro effects on keratinocyte proliferation. The mixture achieved a relative hair growth area of 83.7%, which was significantly higher than the control, and gene expression analysis revealed that approximately 400 genes were upregulated by over 10-fold in the mixture-treated group. The study concluded that the mixture has a significant hair growth-promoting effect, comparable to minoxidil, and suggested that the combination of these compounds could be a potent alternative for hair growth promotion.