Active Ingredients

Minoxidil 5% is the only FDA-approved topical ingredient clinically proven to regrow hair in men and women. Minoxidil is a "potassium channel agonist." It contains the chemical structure of Nitric oxide (NO), a blood vessel dilator, and may be a nitric oxide agonist. This may explain Minoxidil's ability to stimulate hair growth and treat hair loss. Since Minoxidil is a nitric oxide related compound it was suspected to act via activation of Guanylate cyclase, an enzyme involved in vasodilation, however there are no reports of cGMP or PKG activation to date.

Azelaic Acid 5% (pronounced az-uh-LAY-ic) is a simple molecule ( HOOC(CH2)7COOH, CAS Number 123-99-9, also known as 1,9-Nonanedioic acid) that is found in some whole grains and in trace amounts in human bodies. Although it is an acid, it is an extremely weak acid - much weaker than vinegar. A research report by Stamatiadis in 1988 suggested that azelaic acid was a strong type I 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) inhibitor.

Active Ingredients

Vitamin B6 is one of the B-complex, water-soluble vitamin. It exists in three major chemical forms: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine. Vitamin B6 is very essential for body functions and its deficiency can lead to many disorders including hair loss. [1] It is essential for nerve function, immune function, protein digestion and production of red blood cells. Vitamin B6 promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. [2]

Biotin is also one of the Vitamin B complex necessary for fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It is essential for healthy skin, hair and nails and deficiency state has been shown to cause hair loss. [3]

Magnesium, an important mineral is essential for chemical reactions in the body including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission, bone structure and hair growth. [4]

Zinc is an essential mineral necessary for a healthy immune system and proper functioning of enzymes. It is needed for cell division and hence important for skin, nails and hair. Studies report that zinc causes increase on hair density and reverses hair loss. [5] [6] [7]

Saw Palmetto extract has been shown to reduce DHT and 5 alpha-reductase. It actually blocks the receptor sites that are required for the absorption of DHT. It promotes hair growth by blocking the culprit DHT. [8] [9]

Nettle root blocks 2 enzymes, 5a-reductase, which makes the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and aromatase enzyme, which makes estrogens. It also possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic and antiulcer activity. [10] [11] [12]

Pumpkin (Cucurbita Maxima): The oil extract from pumpkin seeds has long been used as hair supplement. The extract has shown activity against testosterone, therefore has potential in preventing hair loss. [13]

Eleuthero Formerly Siberian Ginseng, (Glandular) is a member of the ginseng family, though it is of a different genus than other popular ginsengs such as the Panax variety. Like other ginseng, it had been traditionally used for healthy hair, for increasing endurance and helps restore concentration. The extract decreases testosterone levels in the body along with other stress hormones. [14]

Uva-Ursi extract has antimicrobial activity. [15] The herb neutralizes acidity in the urine, increasing urine flow, therefore reducing bloating & water retention, making it beneficial for hair growth.[16] [17]

Muria Puama plays an important role in energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission bone structure and hair growth for both men and women. Also help with stress management, nervous system stimulation, virility, and overall health. [18] [19] [20] [21]

1. Prendiville, Manfredi. Skin signs of nutritional disorders. Semin Dermatol. 1992 Mar; 11(1):88-97.

2. Brzezinska-Wcislo L. Evaluation of vitamin B6 and calcium pantothenate effectiveness on hair growth from clinical and trichographic aspects for treatment of diffuse alopecia in women. Wiad Lek. 2001; 54(1-2):11-8.

3. Charles et al. Biotin-responsive alopecia and developmental regression. Lancet. 1979 Jul 21; 2(8134):118-20.

4. Cotton, Porters, Spruit. Magnesium content of the hair in alopecia areata atopica. Dermatologica. 1976; 152(1):60-2.

5. Plonka, Handjiski, Popik, Michalczyk, Paus. Zinc as an ambivalent but potent modulator of murine hair growth in vivo- preliminary observations. Exp Dermatol. 2005 Nov; 14(11):844-53.

6. Berger et al. The effects of minoxidil, 1% pyrithione zinc and a combination of both on hair density: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2003 Aug;149(2):354-62.

7. Neve, Bhatti, Soulsby, Kincey, Taylor. Reversal of Hair Loss following Vertical Gastroplasty when Treated with Zinc Sulphate. Obes Surg. 1996 Feb;6(1):63-65.

8. Sinclair, Mallari, Tate. Sensitization to saw palmetto and minoxidil in separate topical extemporaneous treatments for androgenetic alopecia. Australas J Dermatol. 2002 Nov;43(4):311-2.

9. Prager, Bickett, French, Marcovici. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52.

10. Safarinejad MR. Urtica dioica for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005;5(4):1-11.

11. Daher, Baroody, Baroody.Effect of Urtica dioica extract intake upon blood lipid profile in the rats. Fitoterapia. 2006 Apr;77(3):183-8.

12. Gulcin et al. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-3):205-15.

13. Tsai et al. Pumpkin seed oil and phytosterol-F can block testosterone/prazosin-induced prostate growth in rats. Urol Int. 2006;77(3):269-74.

14. Gaffney, Hugel, Rich. The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset numbers in endurance athletes. Life Sci. 2001 Dec 14;70(4):431-42.

15. Kruszewska, Zareba, Tyski. Examination of antimicrobial activity of selected non-antibiotic drugs. Acta Pol Pharm. 2004 Dec;61 Suppl:18-21.

16. Yarnell E. Botanical medicines for the urinary tract. World J Urol. 2002 Nov;20(5):285-93.

17. Schindler et al. Urinary excretion and metabolism of arbutin after oral administration of Arctostaphylos uvae ursi extract as film-coated tablets and aqueous solution in healthy humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Aug;42(8):920-7.

18. Mendes, Carlini. Brazilian plants as possible adaptogens: An ethnopharmacological survey of books edited in Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 1; [Epub ahead of print]

19. Siqueira et al. Neuroprotective effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) on oxygen and glucose deprivation induced damage in rat hippocampal slices. Life Sci. 2004 Aug 27;75(15):1897-906.

20. Siqueira et al. Ptychopetalum olacoides, a traditional Amazonian "nerve tonic", possesses anticholinesterase activity. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun;75(3):645-50.