Efficacy of Pine Needle Extract in a Rat Model of Androgenic Alopecia

Pine needle extract is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to treat alopecia for a long time. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of pine needle extract in a rat model of androgenic alopecia and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone for 60 days to induce androgenic alopecia. The rats were treated with different doses of pine needle extract. After treatment, hair growth in the high-dose group was more evident than that in the middle-and low-dose groups. The residual hair weight in the high-dose group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, pine needle can significantly promote hair growth in rat model of androgenic alopecia. The underlying mechanism may involve regulation of androgen and estrogen balance, improvement of blood circulation in the dermis, and growth of hair follicles. To provide theoretical basis for the treatment of androgenic alopecia with traditional Chinese medicine.