Safflower Oil : An interesting study

5α-reductase inhibition and hair growth promotion of some Thai plants traditionally used for hair treatment
Naphatsorn Kumar 1 , Wandee Rungseevijitprapa, Nual-Anong Narkkhong, Maitree Suttajit, Chaiyavat Chaiyasut
Affiliations

PMID: 22178180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.010

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many Thai traditional herbs have been used for hundreds of years for hair treatment and nourishment, including hair loss. However, scientific evidence about their mechanisms of action has not yet been elucidated.

Aims of the study: The purpose of this research is to define the possible mechanisms involved in hair loss treatment of the selected plants by determining the 5α-reductase enzyme inhibition and hair growth promoting activities, and the relationship between these two activities.

Materials and methods: Seventeen Thai plants traditionally used for hair treatment were selected. The plants were dried, ground and extracted by maceration with ethyl alcohol. These extracts were further tested for 5α-reductase inhibition using enzymes from rat livers. Hair growth promoting activity was tested in C57BL/6 mice.

Results: Carthamus tinctorius L. was the most potent 5α-reductase inhibitor, with a finasteride equivalent 5α-reductase inhibitory activity (FEA) value of 24.30±1.64 mg finasteride equivalent per 1g crude extract. Phyllanthus emblica L. was the second most potent inhibitor, with FEA of 18.99±0.40. Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz. was the least potent 5α-reductase inhibitor (FEA 10.69±0.96). Carthamus tinctorius also was the most potent hair growth promoter in C57BL/6 mice. There were strong relationships between 5α-reductase inhibitory activity and hair growth promoting activity (r=0.719), and between 5α-reductase inhibitory activity and hair follicle count (r=0.766).

Conclusions: Ethanolic extract of Carthamus tinctorius was the most potent 5α-reductase inhibitor and hair growth promoter. This discovery may lead to the development of new alternative medicines for hair loss prevention and treatment.

I have recently bought a litre of Safflower. I massage about 10ml of it into my scalp mostly every night. I would like to know how much I could or should ingest orally ?

Yes these things take a lot of time. Im hoping topical and oral Safflower oil as I have alot of the stuff along with microneedling will be the solution.

As I "comb" through the research on the regular, I saw this when it was initially released and using this oil alone is not easy because it's a bit sticky--and yes, I tried it.

Also, the quality is especially important since most safflower oils will go through industrial extraction and solvent methods under high heat.

CausticSymmetry wrote:As I "comb" through the research on the regular, I saw this when it was initially released and using this oil alone is not easy because it's a bit sticky--and yes, I tried it.

Also, the quality is especially important since most safflower oils will go through industrial extraction and solvent methods under high heat.

This is the Safflower product I got here :

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/234595519026?hash=item369efb8a32:g:AQIAAOSwmNpksP-G&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMRgVwozcwMEMw8fMJtN3cKyg5KYmZ%2FCucCBF4wUT5YGw9f%2FF%2Bz5OcyPzwEaixrLRgkgQKQF278pTDPyQXa%2BZQunhYTfah%2FqpiWvdL2g%2B46%2FENXEXcyxXmxIlWO65bFhRYa7xw1Ls76Wk82891LPfBjK9X9fzyumiEfzk4ONvBNywe9kiIADk2XYETo0%2BCKTSY1I%2B7Vsc%2BnRIzMV3P%2FAhAKmzeUy3abRXKpFolu4HXV0yYN3H88k8G1APzUCfcyVAA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_rx4ojuYg

Im finding this really easy apply at night-time and then just washing it out in the morning. It is not a problem. I am mainly wondering can anyone recommend how much I would be good to orally ingest ?

I am slowly advancing to the later stages of the norwood scale. Nothing really seems to work for me and I had high hopes for dermarolling. I feel like I need to directly battle on the front-line against 5ar and then the benefits of wound induced growth factors from dermarolling may begin to take effect.