Stevioside Could Make Minoxidil More Effective for Pattern Hair Loss

A widely used treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) – the familiar form of pattern hair loss – may become more effective through the addition of stevioside, a natural sweetener extracted from the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana).

Minoxidil is commonly used to treat AGA and is applied directly to the scalp. It stimulates hair follicles by boosting blood flow, although only a limited amount is absorbed through the skin. Different types of microneedle patches have previously been explored as a way to increase this penetration.

Stevioside microneedle patches for androgenetic alopecia

In a recent study, researchers in China and Australia paired stevioside with microneedle patches. Their main reason was that stevioside enables minoxidil to dissolve far more readily in water. This technique should allow substantially more minoxidil to pass beneath the skin and reach hair follicles.

The strategy was evaluated in genetically engineered mice prone to hair loss, with encouraging findings. A considerably greater amount of minoxidil entered the skin, and hair regrowth was enhanced.

"There is a significant increase in hair follicle transition to the growth phase, which resulted in 67.5 percent coverage of the treatment area by day 35," write the researchers in their paper.

"Collectively, the results highlight the potential of the stevioside microneedle delivery system for the treatment of AGA."

By day 35, mice given a conventional minoxidil solution had regrown hair across only 25.7 percent of the treated area, making the result a significant improvement over minoxidil alone. Hair growth also began roughly a week sooner.

More testing is needed before human trials

While the findings are encouraging, they concern mouse hair rather than human hair. The researchers are continuing to test both the microneedle delivery system and the minoxidil formulation to establish the most effective delivery method.

"The benefits and drawbacks of various technical methods, such as metal or soluble microneedles and sustained-release systems, should be evaluated in conjunction with specific clinical scenarios," write the researchers.

Additional research in larger animals will be needed before human clinical trials can begin. Only then will scientists be able to determine how these microneedle patches could work in people, while also assessing potential side effects and other complications.

Long-term practicality must also be evaluated. Existing minoxidil treatments require application at least once daily, and although microneedle delivery could alter that schedule, it would need to be appropriate for repeated use.

"Using stevioside to enhance minoxidil delivery represents a promising step toward more effective and natural treatments for hair loss, potentially benefiting millions worldwide," says pharmacologist Lifeng Kang, from the University of Sydney in Australia.

The research was published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.