Effects of Ginseng Rhizome and Ginsenoside Ro on Testosterone 5α-Reductase and Hair Re-growth in Testosterone-treated Mice

Phytother Res. 2011 May 2. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3511. [Epub ahead of print]
Effects of Ginseng Rhizome and Ginsenoside Ro on Testosterone 5α-Reductase and Hair Re-growth in Testosterone-treated Mice.
Murata K, Takeshita F, Samukawa K, Tani T, Matsuda H.

Faculty of Pharmacy, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka, 577-8502, Japan.

This research program on the novel functions of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer focused on the effects of ginseng rhizome on hair re-growth in androgenetic alopecia. Extracts of red ginseng rhizome showed greater dose-dependent inhibitory effects against testosterone 5α-reductase (5αR) when compared with extracts of the main root. Ginsenoside Ro, the predominant ginsenoside in the rhizome, and ginsenoside Rg(3) , a unique ginsenoside in red ginseng, showed inhibitory activity against 5αR with IC(50) values of 259.4 and 86.1 µm, respectively. The rhizome of P. japonicus, which contains larger amounts of ginsenoside Ro, also inhibited 5αR. Topical administration of extracts of red ginseng rhizomes (2 mg/mouse) and ginsenoside Ro (0.2 mg/mouse) to shaved skin inhibited hair re-growth suppression after shaving in the testosterone-treated C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that red ginseng rhizomes containing both oleanane- and dammarane-type ginsenosides are a promising raw material for cosmetic use. This is the first report that ginsenoside Ro enhances in vivo hair re-growth based on their inhibitory activity against 5αR in the androgenetic alopecia model.

This isn't the first time Panax Ginseng has been evaluated for hair growth:

Phytother Res. 2003 Aug;17(7):797-800.
Promotion of hair growth by ginseng radix on cultured mouse vibrissal hair follicles.
Matsuda H, Yamazaki M, Asanuma Y, Kubo M.

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinki University, 3-4-1, Kowakae, Higashiosaka, Osaka, 577-8502, Japan. matsuda@phar.kindai.ac.jp

A 70% methanol extract from red ginseng (steamed and dried roots of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, a kind of Ginseng Radix) had superior activity to that of white ginseng (peeled and dried root of P. ginseng, another kind of Ginseng Radix) in a hair growth promoting assay using mouse vibrissal follicles in organ culture. Of the major constituents of P. ginseng, ginsenoside-Rb(1) (G-Rb(1)) exhibited activity, but ginsenoside-Rg(1) (G-Rg(1)) and -Ro (G-Ro) were ineffective. Additionally, 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg(3) (20(S)-G-Rg(3)) formed by the processing of red ginseng from the crude root of P. ginseng also showed hair growth promoting activity. These results indicate that Ginseng Radix possesses hair growth promoting activity, and its bioactive components are partially attributable to the ginseng saponin components mentioned above.

Also, Panax ginseng attenuates stress via inhibtion of 11-beta-HSD.

Med Hypotheses. 2001 May;56(5):567-72.
Panax ginseng and Eleutherococcus senticosus may exaggerate an already existing biphasic response to stress via inhibition of enzymes which limit the binding of stress hormones to their receptors.
Gaffney BT, Hügel HM, Rich PA.

Department of Human Biology and Movement Science, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences and Nursing, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, Australia. bengaffney68@hotmail.com

A mechanism of action for Panax ginseng (PG) and Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) is proposed which explains how they could produce the paradoxical effect of sometimes increasing and sometimes decreasing the stress response. The mechanism suggests that this biphasic effect results from increased occupancy of positive and negative feedback stress hormone receptors by their natural ligands due to inhibition of specific enzymes which function to limit receptor occupancy. Specifically, it is suggested that PG inhibits 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase one and ES inhibits catechol- O -methyl transferase, both of which reside in close proximity to stress hormone receptors and catalyse the degradation of stress hormones into inactive compounds. In addition, it is suggested that the increased energy said to result from PG and ES may be a consequence of their increasing the occupancy of stress hormone receptors which function to redistribute the body's energy reserves from regeneration to activity.

Had some stress in the last few months and this stuff does worked for me (to reduce cortisol).

Hey CS, topical or internal application?

"This is the first report to show that ginsenoside Ro has inhibitory activity against 5αR and induces hair re‐growth by topical application" - from the Conclusion of the article

Iherb carries red ginseng 1:1 liquid extract. Im going to add the prescribed quantity to warm coconut / castor oil ( 2 mg ) and use it as a topical. Should be interesting how this turns out.

Glacier wrote:Iherb carries red ginseng 1:1 liquid extract. Im going to add the prescribed quantity to warm coconut / castor oil ( 2 mg ) and use it as a topical. Should be interesting how this turns out.

Did you try it for a period?

So CS, is 5α-reductase stress dependent?

Exciting! Thanks CS. Just ordered some red ginseng from Amazon. I am currently using olive, thyme, emu and rosemary oils (can't comment either way on their effectivenes though).
But in reading what you posted, this certainly looks very promising.

Kazbar wrote:So CS, is 5α-reductase stress dependent?

Not entirely, but yes stress definitely increases the expression of 5-AR

Thanks CS. I've been taking this supplement below for stress, it does work. Although should I switch to the above?

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Super-Cortisol-Support-90-Veggie-Caps/5022#p=1&oos=1&disc=0&lc=en-US&w=cortisol&rc=82&sr=null&ic=1

Kazbar wrote:Thanks CS. I've been taking this supplement below for stress, it does work. Although should I switch to the above?

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Super-Cortisol-Support-90-Veggie-Caps/5022#p=1&oos=1&disc=0&lc=en-US&w=cortisol&rc=82&sr=null&ic=1

Most of the time, I've found that some of these ingredients do not work for one person vs another. In other words, some can cause aggression or increased stress. So trial and error is the best policy.

Thanks.

Adaptogenic herbs are amazing, Panax is one of my favourites next to Ashwagandha and Rhodiola.