Hair growth efficacy and safety assessment of an ayurvedic leave-on treatment: a clinical trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20253397Keywords:
Ayurvedic, Hair growth treatment, Clinical trial, Bhringaraj, New hair growthAbstract
Background: This clinical study was undertaken to assess the safety, efficacy of an Ayurvedic leave-on treatment for hair loss in healthy Indian adults (both male and female). The study also aimed to elucidate the product’s mechanism of action through in vitro analyses.
Methods: Healthy male and female volunteers experiencing hair loss and hair thinning were enrolled for clinical study. Subjects were screened based on predefined criteria, including specific hair density and thinning parameters, and the absence of underlying medical conditions that could contribute to hair loss. The study design included a washout period prior to treatment initiation. The treatment phase lasted for three months, during which participants applied the product regularly and visited the study center at scheduled intervals for follow-up assessments and measurements. An in vitro study was conducted using human dermal papilla cells to investigate the mechanism of action (MoA) of the Ayurvedic leave-on treatment.
Results: The Ayurvedic leave-on treatment demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing hair fall and improving hair density in both male and female subjects compared to baseline measurements. Noticeable improvements observed in increase in hair density, reduction in hair fall and over all hair and scalp health from the second week of application and continued throughout the treatment period.
Conclusion: The Ayurvedic leave-on formulation demonstrated a clinically significant increase in hair density and improvement in the anagen: telogen ratio, indicating reduced hair fall and normalization of the hair cycle. This is mechanistically supported by the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in dermal papilla cells, promoting follicular angiogenesis.
Metrics
References
Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K. Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019;13:2777-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S214907
Lai-Cheong JE, McGrath JA. Structure and function of skin, hair and nails. Medicine (Abingdon). 2013;41(6):317-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2013.04.017
Gao J, Liu C, Zhang S, Techer MP, Bouabbache S, Pouradier F, et al. Revisiting, in vivo, the hair regreasing process by the sebuprint method. Skin Res Technol. 2019;25(1):79-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.12613
Harkey MR. Anatomy and physiology of hair. Forensic Sci Int. 1993;63(1-3):9-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(93)90255-9
Price VH. Treatment of hair loss. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(13):964-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199909233411307
Liu D, Xu Q, Meng X, Liu X, Liu J. Status of research on the development and regeneration of hair follicles. Int J Med Sci. 2024;21(1):80-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.88508
Vujovic A, Del Marmol V. The female pattern hair loss: review of etiopathogenesis and diagnosis. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:767628. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/767628
Asfour L, Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male Androgenetic Alopecia. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, et al, editors. Endotext. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc. 2000.
Chaikittisilpa S, Rattanasirisin N, Panchaprateep R, Orprayoon N, Phutrakul P, Suwan A, et al. Prevalence of female pattern hair loss in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study. Menopause. 2022;29(4):415-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000001927
Junge A, Radonjic-Hoesli S, Bossart S, Simon D, De Viragh P, Hunger RE, et al. Contact dermatitis caused by topical minoxidil: allergy or just irritation. Acta Derm Venereol. 2025;105:42401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v105.42401
Stout SM, Stumpf JL. Finasteride treatment of hair loss in women. Ann Pharmacother. 2010;44(6):1090-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1M591
Purwar P, Yadav SS, Gangele P. Khalitya (hair fall) management—Ayurvedic perspective. Int J Health Sci Res. 2019;9(4):255-60.
Vashishtha NM, Meena MP. Review on Nilibhringadi Taila: an effective Keshya medication. Ayushdhara. 2022;9(6):111-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47070/ayushdhara.v9i6.1103
Dhurat R, Saraogi P. Hair evaluation methods: merits and demerits. Int J Trichology. 2009;1(2):108-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753.58553
Yano K, Brown LF, Detmar M. Control of hair growth and follicle size by VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. J Clin Invest. 2001;107(4):409-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI11317
Bhashjay Ratnavali (Hindi Vyakhya Sahit) Siddhi Prada. 2021;940.
Natarelli N, Gahoonia N, Sivamani RK. Integrative and mechanistic approach to the hair growth cycle and hair loss. J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):893. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030893
Shin JY, Choi YH, Kim J, Park SY, Nam YJ, Lee SY, et al. Polygonum multiflorum extract supports hair growth by elongating anagen phase and abrogating the effect of androgen in cultured human dermal papilla cells. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20:1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02940-5
Tsuji Y, Denda S, Soma T, Raftery L, Momoi T, Hibino T. A potential suppressor of TGF-β delays catagen progression in hair follicles. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2003;8(1):65-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12173.x
Soma T, Tsuji Y, Hibino T. Involvement of transforming growth factor-β2 in catagen induction during the human hair cycle. J Invest Dermatol. 2002;118(6):993-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.01746.x
Lu GQ, Wu ZB, Chu XY, Bi ZG, Fan WX. An investigation of crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin and transforming growth factor-β signaling in androgenetic alopecia. Medicine. 2016;95(30):e4297. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000004297
Begum S, Lee MR, Gu LJ, Hossain J, Sung CK. Exogenous stimulation with Eclipta alba promotes hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and downregulates TGF-β1 expression in nude mice. Int J Mol Med. 2015;35(2):496-502. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2014.2022
Kubanov AA, Gallyamova YA, Korableva OA, Kalinina PA. The role of the VEGF, KGF, EGF, and TGF-β1 growth factors in the pathogenesis of telogen effluvium in women. Biomed Pharmacol J. 2017;10(1):191-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13005/bpj/1097
Aldridge RD. Hair loss. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1984;289(6450):985-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.289.6450.985
Bhat PM, Umale H, Lahankar M. Amalaki: a review on functional and pharmacological properties. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2019;8(3):4378-82.
Gul M, Liu ZW, Rabail R, Faheem F, Walayat N, Nawaz A, et al. Functional and nutraceutical significance of amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.): a review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022;11(5):816. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11050816
Luanpitpong S, Nimmannit U, Pongrakhananon V, Chanvorachote P. Emblica (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) fruit extract promotes proliferation in dermal papilla cells of human hair follicle. J Med Plants Res. 2011;5(1):95-100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/rjmp.2011.95.100
Jankovic SM, Jankovic SV. The control of hair growth. Dermatol Online J. 1998;4(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5070/D36GZ420MW
Ibrahim Y, Hamed A, Saeed A, Abd El Khalik G, Behiry E. Evaluation of oxidative stress markers in androgenetic alopecia patients. Benha J Appl Sci. 2023;8(12):105-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/bjas.2024.261687.1307
Akhbari M, Firooz A, Rahimi R, Shirzad M, Esmaealzadeh N, Shirbeigi L. The effect of an oral product containing amla fruit (Phyllanthus emblica L.) on female androgenetic alopecia: a randomized controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024;318:116958. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.116958
Agnihotri VK, Kumar V, Sharma R. Review article on mode of action of Shiroabhyanga. Int J Ayurveda Res. 2015;6(6):725-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7897/2277-4343.066135
Nigam L. A review on medicinal benefits of curry leaves. J Adv Pharmacogn. 2023;3(1):19-26.
Bangre P, Belge A, Karande N, Urkude M. A study of effect of Shirobhyanga with Kaidarya siddha Narikela taila in the management of Khalitya (hair fall): a randomized controlled trial. Int J Ayurvedic Med. 2022;13(3):680-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47552/ijam.v13i3.2884
Mathur A, Verma SK, Singh SK, Prasad GBKS, Dua VK. Investigation of the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of compound isolated from Murraya koenigii. Int J Appl Biol Pharm Technol. 2011;2(1):470-7.
Almudimeegh A, Alajlan AH, Alrasheed AI, Alrasheed MI, Alqahtani AK, Idris RB, et al. The impact, prevalence, and association of different forms of hair loss among individuals with anxiety disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(6):e41457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000041457
Peters EM, Arck PC, Paus R. Hair growth inhibition by psychoemotional stress: a mouse model for neural mechanisms in hair growth control. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15(1):1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-6705.2005.00372.x
Lee EY, Nam YJ, Kang S, Choi EJ, Han I, Kim J, et al. The local hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in cultured human dermal papilla cells. BMC Mol Cell Biol. 2020;21:1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12860-020-00287-w
Thorat BS, Bagkar TA, Patil RR. Brahmi—the memory booster medicinal herb. J Med Plants Stud. 2018;6(1):185-7.
Zu X, Zhang M, Li W, Xie H, Lin Z, Yang N, et al. Antidepressant-like effect of Bacopaside I in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function and activating BDNF signaling pathway. Neurochem Res. 2017;42:3233-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2360-3
Vishnupriya P, Padma VV. A review on the antioxidant and therapeutic potential of Bacopa monnieri. React Oxygen Spec. 2017;3:111-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20455/ros.2017.817
Choi DI, Choi JY, Lee JB, Yun SJ, Moon BK, Ahn YG, et al. Protective activity against oxidative stress in dermal papillae with extracted herbal essential oils. Appl Sci. 2023;13(6):3985. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063985
Patel M, Tuli N, Patel N, Merja A, Patel MN. A clinical evaluation of the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of the Soulflower Rosemary Redensyl hair growth serum, Tetragain™, in healthy female subjects for the treatment of alopecia. Cureus. 2025;17(1):1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.77066
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Part I. Volume 5. Available at: https://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-1.pdf. Accessed on 25 August 2025.
Jain SL, Kaur Y. Preventive and curative aspect of hair fall/hair loss according to integration of Ayurveda & Yoga. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2023;3(1):29-35.
Patil DR, Kedar SS. Critical review on Ayurvedic management of Khalitya (hair fall) and its management. Int J Ind Med. 2025;6(2):24-7.
Craighead DH, Alexander LM. Topical menthol increases cutaneous blood flow. Microvasc Res. 2016;107:39-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2016.04.010
Malarvizhi S, Deepa Y, Christa E, Mooventhan A. Effect of peppermint oil on hair growth and hair fall reduction in individuals with diffused hair loss: a randomized controlled study. Indian J Integr Med. 2025;5(2):123-8.
Wester RC, Maibach HI, Guy RH, Novak E. Minoxidil stimulates cutaneous blood flow in human balding scalps: pharmacodynamics measured by laser Doppler velocimetry and photo pulse plethysmography. J Invest Dermatol. 1984;82(5):515-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12261084
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
