Evaluation of Derma Genie™-H001 as a Functional Cosmetic Ingredient for Hair Loss Improvement: Assessing Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidative, Photoprotective, Antiandrogenic, and Hair Growth-Inductive Effects

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the potential of Derma Genie™-H001 as a functional cosmetic ingredient for alleviating hair loss symptoms by evaluating its impact on anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, photoprotective, antiandrogenicity, and activation of hair growth-related gene expression. Methods: We employed various methods, including nitric oxide (NO) assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR, to estimate anti-inflammatory activities). Additionally, this study assessed antioxidative and photoprotective effects on human dermal papilla cells (HDPCs) using water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assay, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA) assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiation assay. To investigate the anti-hair loss effects of Derma Genie™-H001, 3D spheroid culture and qRT-PCR were conducted. Results: Derma Genie™-H001 exhibited the characteristics of polyphenols and demonstrated 2,2-dipheny-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Importantly, it showed no cytotoxicity on HDPCs and increased the diameter of HDPCs 3D spheroid. Inflammatory mediators such as NO and proinflammatory cytokines were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in Raw 264.7 cells treated with Derma Genie™. Moreover, Derma Genie™ exhibited substantial protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and UVB-induced cytotoxicity in HDPCs. Notably, qRT-PCR analysis revealed a decrease in the expression of genes related to hair loss and an increase in the expression of genes associated with hair growth in HDPCs treated with Derma Genie™. Conclusion: Derma Genie™-H001 demonstrated promising effects in mitigating LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines, H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity, UVB-induced cytotoxicity, and DHT-induced TGF-β1 expression. Furthermore, it significantly upregulated the expression of hair growth-related genes. These findings suggest that Derma Genie™ may serve as a valuable functional cosmetic ingredient for improving hair loss symptoms.