Malus pumila Mill. cv Annurca apple extract might be therapeutically useful against oxidative stress and patterned hair loss

Publication Date:
2024-05-07

Institutions involved:

Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
EVRA S.r.l. Società Benefit, Lauria, Italy
Spinoff Bioactiplant S.r.l., Potenza, Italy

Participants:
In vitro (lab study) on human hair follicle cells

Duration:
Cell culture experiments: 24-hour pre-treatment

Dosage:
2 mg/mL for optimal antioxidant protection

Key Takeaways:

Among all sources of procyanidin B2, apple contains the highest concentration of this active metabolite, with maximum levels in the peels of immature fruit.

From the authors: “Procyanidin B2 was shown to be among the safest and most effective compounds usable in inducing hair growth.”

“The extract… significantly increased β-catenin and FGF-2 levels, activating follicle regeneration pathways.”

Apple Poly Summary:

Why Is This Study Important? This study bridges antioxidant science with hair follicle biology, showing that a procyanidin-rich apple peel extract can protect scalp cells from oxidative damage and stimulate key hair growth factors. It provides insight into how and why these apple bioactives influence follicle regeneration and hair growth, focusing on procyanidin B2 and chlorogenic acid.

You Should Know: Human clinical trials (like this one from Turkey) tell us whether apple polyphenols promote hair growth in people. Cell and animal studies (like the one you're reading here) are often better ways of understanding how and why they work.

In Plain English: Scientists tested an apple peel extract on scalp cells and found it helped protect them from damage and boosted proteins that help hair grow. It worked better than single ingredients and may help prevent hair loss naturally.

For Medical Professionals: AT HAIR-FUL AA®, a water-extracted Annurca apple peel formulation, demonstrated protective effects against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in HFDPCs. It upregulated SOD2, CAT, β-catenin, and FGF-2, suggesting activation of Wnt signaling and antioxidant defense. Synergistic efficacy exceeded that of isolated PB2 or CGA. Human trial data support its therapeutic potential in androgenic alopecia.

Abstract:

Patterned hair loss (PHL) or androgenetic alopecia is a condition affecting about 50% of people worldwide. Several pharmacological medications have been developed over the years, but few studies have investigated their effectiveness. Therefore, new, safer and more effective strategies are required. Recent investigations showed that Annurca apple extract application could induce keratin production and promote hair growth thanks to the high amount of procyanidin B2 contained in. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the role of an Annurca apple extract in preventing PHL by testing it on human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) for the first time. Treatment of HFDPCs with Annurca apple extract counteracted intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase 2 and catalase. Furthermore, treatment with Annurca apple extract increased b-catenin and fibroblast growth factor 2, which are involved in hair growth stimulation. These data suggest that Annurca apple extract may be a potential therapeutically useful nutraceutical product for preventing or treating hair loss by reducing oxidative stress and inducing the expression of hair growth-related factors.

Benedetto, Nadia, et al. “Malus pumila Mill. cv Annurca Apple Extract Might Be Therapeutically Useful Against Oxidative Stress and Patterned Hair Loss.” FEBS Open Bio, vol. 14, no. 5, 7 May 2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13805..