The Anti-Gray Secret Hidden In Vegetables
Experts are keen to explore ways to prevent the onset of gray hair, and recent research provides some promising insights. A study published in Antioxidants investigated the effects of three antioxidants—hesperetin, diosmetin, and luteolin—on graying hair in mice. While hesperetin and diosmetin showed no impact, luteolin appeared to reduce the development of gray hair in the mice.
This study used a specific group of mice genetically programmed to develop gray hair with age, similar to the process in humans. The researchers explained that two key types of stem cells in hair follicles—keratinocyte and melanocyte stem cells—are crucial in this process. The aging of these cells, marked by changes in endothelins and their receptors, leads to graying. If scientists can find a way to interrupt or slow this process, it might be possible to prevent gray hair.
The study tested both internal and external applications of luteolin on mice over a 16-week period. External treatments with luteolin led to fewer gray hairs and slowed the aging of keratinocyte stem cells, while internal luteolin treatments showed a weaker but still noticeable effect. The researchers also found that luteolin positively affected human skin keratinocytes by reducing aging markers and promoting endothelin-1 signaling, further supporting its potential role in preventing gray hair.
In a related experiment, researchers induced oxidative stress in wild-type mice to promote graying. Mice that were treated with luteolin showed less gray hair compared to untreated ones, suggesting that luteolin might help reduce hair graying by counteracting oxidative stress.
While these results are promising, they have so far been limited to mice and human cells in the lab. Further research is needed to confirm whether luteolin can effectively prevent gray hair in humans, as well as to determine safe dosages and the most effective methods of application. Experts note that practical challenges, such as luteolin’s yellow coloration, could complicate its use in human treatments, but continued research could lead to effective strategies for preventing gray hair in the future.
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