Medical News Today (MNT)An Antioxidant in Vegetables May Help Keep Hair From Turning Gray

This preclinical research published in Antioxidants investigates luteolin’s potential to prevent hair graying in mouse models designed to mimic human hair graying processes. The study demonstrates both topical and oral luteolin treatments reduced gray hair development in mice through modulation of keratinocyte stem cells and endothelin signaling pathways.

Key Clinical Considerations

• Luteolin treatments (both topical and oral) reduced gray hair development in mouse models, while other tested antioxidants (hesperetin and diosmetin) showed no effect.
• Mechanism appears to involve suppression of keratinocyte stem cell aging and restoration of endothelin signaling between follicular keratinocyte stem cells and follicular melanocyte stem cells.
• Oxidative stress-induced hair graying was also reduced by luteolin treatment, suggesting antioxidant properties contribute to its effects.
• Human skin keratinocytes showed increased endothelin-1 expression with luteolin treatment, indicating potential translational relevance.
• Major limitation: Research conducted only in mice and cell cultures; human studies needed to confirm efficacy, appropriate dosing, and safety profiles.

Clinical Practice Impact

• While promising for future anti-graying interventions, these findings remain preliminary.
• When discussing with patients interested in preventing gray hair, emphasize that luteolin’s effects in humans remain unconfirmed.
• Consider recommending dietary sources of luteolin (radicchio, green peppers, celery, artichokes) as part of a healthy diet that may potentially offer multiple benefits beyond hair pigmentation.
• Note the study author’s financial conflicts of interest when interpreting results, and acknowledge the technical challenges of topical application due to luteolin’s yellow color.

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