Background: Minoxidil is the only US FDA approved topical drug for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Minoxidil is effective in hair re-growth in 30%-40% of patients and 50% of males. To exert its hair growing effect, minoxidil must be sulfonated in the scalp by the minoxidil sulfotransferase enzyme (SULT1A1). Low scalp SULT1A1 correlates with lack of minoxidil response; thus, supplementing the scalp SULT1A1 with naturally occurring minoxidil sulfotransferase enzymes could potentially improve treatment outcomes in AGA patients.
Methods: In this study, we set to characterize SULT1A1 activity in various plants.
Results: From the 10 common botanical extracts we have studied, seven exhibited significant activity toward minoxidil as a substrate; thus, providing a potential novel paradigm to increase minoxidil response with natural supplements.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize naturally occurring minoxidil sulfotransferase enzymes in plants.
Keywords: alopecia; androgenic alopecia; botanicals; hair loss; minoxidil; sulfotransferase; treatment.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.