Welcome to China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics, Today is

China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics ›› 2026, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (9): 1169-1179.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2097-2806.2026.09.005

• Basic research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Anti-hair loss effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula by regulating the hair follicle cycle and autophagy balance

Yingying Zhang1,Yalin Wang2,Bingtian Zhao3,Lijuan Bao2,Qianghua Quan2,Juan Xu2,*(),Pei Lin1,*()   

  1. 1 School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
    2 Yunnan Baiyao Group Co., Ltd., Kunming, Yunnan 650504, China
    3 Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
  • Received:2025-11-27 Revised:2026-08-14 Online:2026-09-22 Published:2026-09-30
  • Contact: *E-mail: linpei@jiangnan.edu.cn (Pei Lin);xujuan@ynbyjk.com (Juan Xu). E-mail:xujuan@ynbyjk.com;linpei@jiangnan.edu.cn

Abstract:

JKYF01, a self-developed patented anti-hair loss formula, consists of Biota orientalis (BO), Eclipta prostrata (EP) and Panax notoginseng (PN) as its primary ingredients. This study aims to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of JKYF01 in preventing hair loss. An in vitro model of hair follicle degeneration was established using human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) stimulated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). The expressions levels of critical growth indicators and catagen markers were measured by RT-qPCR. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy levels were also quantified. Network pharmacology and experimental validation were used to delineate the underlying mechanisms. IFN-γ at 200 ng/mL successfully induces the hDPCs cell model. After treatment with JKYF01, the expression of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is upregulated, while the expression of bone morphogenetic proteins 4 and 6 (BMP4/6), transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is inhibited. As principal ingredients, BO increases the expression of SOX2 and HGF, whereas EP and PN reduce the expression of catagen markers in a dose-dependent manner. Network pharmacology analysis indicates that JKYF01 contains 19 main active ingredients. GO and KEGG analyses show that the targets are enriched in the PI3K/Akt, RAS, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as apoptosis-related pathways, suggesting that the hair loss-preventive effect of JKYF01 is closely related to its anti-inflammatory activity and its regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Fluorescent staining results indicate that JKYF01 effectively inhibits excessive ROS production, and suppresses activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, thereby promoting the expression of autophagy marker proteins Beclin1 and LC3B to enhance autophagic flux. In conclusion, JKYF01 effectively prevents hair loss by inhibiting follicle degeneration, restoring cellular autophagy, and regulating the hair follicle cycle and inflammatory microenvironment.

Key words: anti-hair loss formula of Chinese medicine, hair follicle cycle, autophagy, network pharmacology

CLC Number: 

  • TQ658