Pea sprout extract taken at 100 mg a day for eight weeks helped grow more hair in a small human trial, and lab work showed it boosts IGF‑1 and other growth factors while cutting inflammation and oxidative stress in hair follicles.

Hair loss is a prevalent condition that affects individuals across all ages and genders. Its causes are multifactorial, involving genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalances, aging, stress and air pollution factors. A previous randomized clinical trial, reveals that daily administration of 100mg of pea sprout extract (PSE) for 8 weeks significantly increased hair density in patients, however, the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of PSE in promoting hair growth. <i>In vitro</i> experiments were conducted using human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and RAW 264.7 macrophage cells alongside an <i>in vivo</i> study in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Our study demonstrates that PSE promotes hair growth by activating the Wnt/&#x3b2;-catenin signaling pathway, upregulating hair growth-promoting factors, including IGF-1 and FGF7, while downregulating growth inhibitory factors, including IL-1&#x3b2; and BMP4. This indicates that PSE effectively modulates the balance of growth factors by enhancing dermal papilla-associated signaling, thereby harmonizing the hair growth cycle. Furthermore, our results reveal that PSE exhibits anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress and inflammatory damage, processes that can be influenced by environmental pollutants. Inflammation relief involves the use of anti-inflammatory agents to suppress pro inflammatory cytokines, thereby improving the microenvironment surrounding hair follicles and supporting hair growth. PSE is a promising natural ingredient, offering potential benefits in combating hair loss and promoting healthier hair growth by modulating key signaling pathways and providing protective effects. Its potential as a potential natural alopecia treatment warrants more research.