Hair-Growth Potential of Ginseng and Its Major Metabolites: A Review on Its Molecular Mechanisms

Abstract

The functional aspect of scalp hair is not only to protect from solar radiation and heat/cold exposure but also to contribute to one’s appearance and personality. Progressive hair loss has a cosmetic and social impact. Hair undergoes three stages of hair cycle: the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Through cyclical loss and new-hair growth, the number of hairs remains relatively constant. A variety of factors, such as hormones, nutritional status, and exposure to radiations, environmental toxicants, and medications, may affect hair growth. Androgens are the most important of these factors that cause androgenic alopecia. Other forms of hair loss include immunogenic hair loss, that is, alopecia areata. Although a number of therapies, such as finasteride and minoxidil, are approved medications, and a few others (e.g., tofacitinib) are in progress, a wide variety of structurally diverse classes of phytochemicals, including those present in ginseng, have demonstrated hair growth-promoting effects in a large number of preclinical studies. The purpose of this review is to focus on the potential of ginseng and its metabolites on the prevention of hair loss and its underlying mechanisms.

Can plant‐derived phytochemicals provide symptom relief for hair loss? A critical review

“…Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) contains a range of bioactive constituents. A group of saponins, also referred to as gingsenosides, have been tested for their potential to promote hair growth and overall capacity to prevent oxidative damage in cells also recently reviewed by Choi 2018 .…”

Application of medicinal plants in several dermatovenerological entities

“…Mey., Araliaceae. -Ginsenosides are saponin compounds derived from P. ginseng with a wide spectrum of biological activity, with the influence on hairgrowth being only one of the proposed activities (11). In 2014, a study was conducted in order to assess the efficacy of P. ginseng supplementation in treating female pattern alopecia.…”

Flavonoid Silibinin Increases Hair-Inductive Property Via Akt and Wnt/��-Catenin Signaling Activation in 3-Dimensional-Spheroid Cultured Human Dermal Papilla Cells

“…Scalp hair, composed mainly of keratin, serves to protect from harmful elements and, notably, also contributes to one's personality [7]. One of the most prominent features of hair is the specific growth pattern consisting of three distinct phases-anagen, catagen, and telogen [7,8]. Hair growth and new hair induction are therefore tightly regulated by the hair cycle [7].…”

“…One of the most prominent features of hair is the specific growth pattern consisting of three distinct phases-anagen, catagen, and telogen [7,8]. Hair growth and new hair induction are therefore tightly regulated by the hair cycle [7]. Exposure of hair to internal and external factors-hormones, stress, pollution, and other factors that are undefined-results in a change in and shortening of the normal hair-growth cycle [7].…”

“…Hair growth and new hair induction are therefore tightly regulated by the hair cycle [7]. Exposure of hair to internal and external factors-hormones, stress, pollution, and other factors that are undefined-results in a change in and shortening of the normal hair-growth cycle [7]. This change is linked to the shortening of the anagen phase, an increase in the proportion of hairs in catagen, and the lengthening of telogen resulting in hair loss, or alopecia [7,8].…”