{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,19]],"date-time":"2026-10-19T20:47:16Z","timestamp":1792442836170,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,12]],"date-time":"2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754956800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Hair loss, driven by disrupted hair cycles, age-related hormonal imbalances, and oxidative stress, poses significant psychological challenges, necessitating the development of safe and effective therapies. This research investigates the trichogenic potential and underlying mechanisms of a standardized Ageratum conyzoides extract (ACE) using human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and C57BL\/6 mice as models. Methods: HFDPCs were treated with ACE to assess its effects on 5\u03b1-reductase activity, estrogen receptor (ER\u03b1\/ER\u03b2) signaling, and activation of Wnt\/\u03b2-catenin and MAPK pathways. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and antioxidant enzyme expression were also evaluated. In vivo, C57BL\/6 mice were administered ACE orally, and hair regrowth, follicle number and depth, and histological changes were measured. Results: In HFDPCs, ACE inhibited 5\u03b1-reductase activity, modulated ER\u03b1 and ER\u03b2 signaling, and activated Wnt\/\u03b2-catenin and MAPK pathways. ACE treatment at 100 \u03bcg\/mL significantly increased \u03b2-catenin, p-GSK3\u03b2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression (p &lt; 0.01) and decreased Dickkopf-related protein-1 (DKK-)1 expression (p &lt; 0.05). It also upregulated VEGF and other hair-growth-related factors and exhibited substantial antioxidant properties by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevating the expression of antioxidant enzymes, notably SOD2 at 100 \u03bcg\/mL. In C57BL\/6 mice, oral administration of ACE significantly increased hair regrowth, with the 50 mg\/kg group showing the most prominent effects, including increased hair follicle number and depth compared to the negative control group (p &lt; 0.05). These effects were observed to be dose-dependent and comparable to those of minoxidil. Histological analysis confirmed enhanced anagen-phase follicle development. Conclusions: These findings highlight ACE\u2019s multifaceted biological activity in promoting hair growth through hormonal modulation, pathway activation, and antioxidant protection, positioning it as a promising natural supplement for hair growth and health, although further clinical studies are required to confirm its efficacy in humans.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17162617","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,12]],"date-time":"2025-08-12T15:51:02Z","timestamp":1755013862000},"page":"2617","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Hair Growth and Health Promoting Effects of Standardized Ageratum conyzoides Extract in Human Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells and in C57BL\/6 Mice"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Jong-Hwan","family":"Lim","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"InnoTNB Co., Ltd., 815, 8, Beobwon-ro 8-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05855, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9516-9895","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chunsik","family":"Yi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"InnoTNB Co., Ltd., 815, 8, Beobwon-ro 8-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05855, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-4942-6485","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eun-Hye","family":"Chung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-0395-5724","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ji-Soo","family":"Jeong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-0655-3468","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jin-Hwa","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"So-Young","family":"Boo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Su-Ha","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8501-7295","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Je-Won","family":"Ko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5239-3833","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tae-Won","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BK21 FOUR Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34131, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Young-Hun","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nursing Science, Woosong Infomation College, 141, Dongdaejeon-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon 34606, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"951","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.331.7522.951","article-title":"The psychological impact of alopecia","volume":"331","author":"Hunt","year":"2005","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.4103\/0974-7753.51923","article-title":"Oxidative stress in ageing of hair","volume":"1","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. 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