Valproic Acid induces hair regeneration in murine model and activates alkaline phosphatase activity in human dermal papilla cells.

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e34152. Epub 2012 Apr 10.
Valproic Acid induces hair regeneration in murine model and activates alkaline phosphatase activity in human dermal papilla cells.
Lee SH, Yoon J, Shin SH, Zahoor M, Kim HJ, Park PJ, Park WS, Min do S, Kim HY, Choi KY.

Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.

BACKGROUND:
Alopecia is the common hair loss problem that can affect many people. However, current therapies for treatment of alopecia are limited by low efficacy and potentially undesirable side effects. We have identified a new function for valproic acid (VPA), a GSK3β inhibitor that activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, to promote hair re-growth in vitro and in vivo. METHODOLOGY/

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:
Topical application of VPA to male C3H mice critically stimulated hair re-growth and induced terminally differentiated epidermal markers such as filaggrin and loricrin, and the dermal papilla marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). VPA induced ALP in human dermal papilla cells by up-regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, whereas minoxidil (MNX), a drug commonly used to treat alopecia, did not significantly affect the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. VPA analogs and other GSK3β inhibitors that activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway such as 4-phenyl butyric acid, LiCl, and BeCl(2) also exhibited hair growth-promoting activities in vivo. Importantly, VPA, but not MNX, successfully stimulate hair growth in the wounds of C3H mice.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:
Our findings indicate that small molecules that activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, such as VPA, can potentially be developed as drugs to stimulate hair re-growth.

Full study: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0034152

Note: This this just a reference, many of us in the past tried similar methods, (i.e, Lithium chloride, etc.), the effects are limited.

So what does this translate to?

From wikipedia, valproic acid...an analogue of valeric acid, found naturally in valerian herb (Valeriana officinalis).
So, maybe, valerian used in topicals may have some efficacy.