Polygonum Multiflorum for Hair Growth? What the Science Says

study PMID: 35777117

Quick Summary: Research suggests a supplement containing Polygonum multiflorum may help with hair regrowth by boosting a key growth pathway. This study, done on mice, showed faster hair growth compared to a control group.

Can Polygonum Multiflorum Help With Hair Loss?

This study looked at a supplement called Shi-Bi-Man (SBM), which includes Polygonum multiflorum as an ingredient. Researchers found that SBM helped hair grow back faster in mice. It seems to work by activating a specific pathway in the body called the FGF pathway, which is important for hair growth.

Study Details

Who was studied: Mice and human cells in a lab.

How long: Mice were treated for 14 days.

What they took: Mice received SBM through an injection. Human cells were treated with SBM extract.

What This Means For You

This research is promising, but it's important to remember it was done on mice and in a lab. It suggests that Polygonum multiflorum, as part of a supplement, might help with hair growth. However:

More research is needed: We need studies on humans to confirm these results.

Talk to your doctor: Polygonum multiflorum can have side effects, so it's important to discuss it with your doctor before trying any supplements containing it.

Study Limitations

Not tested on humans: The study was done on mice and cells in a lab, not people.

Multi-ingredient supplement: The supplement contained other ingredients besides Polygonum multiflorum, so we don't know the exact effect of Polygonum multiflorum alone.

Short-term study: The study only looked at the effects over a short period.

Different delivery method: The mice received the supplement through an injection, which is different from how people would take it.

Potential side effects: Polygonum multiflorum has been linked to liver problems, so it's important to be cautious.

Key Findings

The study demonstrated that Shi-Bi-Man (SBM), a multi-ingredient supplement containing Polygonum multiflorum, significantly promoted hair regeneration in C57BL/6 mice by activating the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway in dermal papilla cells (DPCs). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed SBM upregulated FGF18 expression (p<0.05) and enhanced DPC proliferation. In vivo, SBM-treated mice exhibited accelerated hair regrowth (30% increase vs. control; p<0.01) and prolonged anagen (growth) phase. The effect was attributed to FGF pathway activation, not androgen receptor modulation, distinguishing it from finasteride.

Study Design

This preclinical study combined in vitro (human DPC cultures) and in vivo (mouse) experiments. In vitro: Primary human DPCs were treated with SBM extract (0.1 mg/mL) for 24–72 hours; single-cell transcriptomics analyzed 10,000+ cells across 3 biological replicates. In vivo: 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice (n=6/group) underwent depilation to synchronize hair cycles. SBM (100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally daily for 14 days. Hair regrowth was monitored photographically and histologically.

Dosage & Administration

SBM was dissolved in PBS for in vitro use at 0.1 mg/mL. For mice, SBM was administered via intraperitoneal injection at 100 mg/kg/day. The study did not specify human-equivalent dosing or oral administration routes, as it focused on mechanistic pathways. Polygonum multiflorum constituted one component of SBM (exact proportion undisclosed), so isolated effects of this herb were not tested.

Results & Efficacy

SBM increased DPC proliferation by 25% (p<0.01) in vitro and upregulated FGF18 (log2 fold-change: 1.8; p<0.05). In vivo, SBM accelerated hair regrowth by day 10 (85% coverage vs. 55% in controls; p<0.01) and extended anagen duration. Histology showed 40% more hair follicles in anagen phase (p<0.05). Statistical significance was confirmed via Student’s t-test (p<0.05 considered significant); no confidence intervals were reported.

Limitations

Key limitations include: (1) Absence of human clinical data; results are confined to cell cultures and mice. (2) SBM is a multi-ingredient formulation, so Polygonum multiflorum’s individual contribution cannot be isolated. (3) Short duration (14 days) precludes assessment of long-term efficacy/safety. (4) Intraperitoneal delivery in mice does not reflect oral human supplementation. (5) No dose-response analysis for SBM components. Future research should validate findings in human trials and deconstruct SBM’s active constituents.

Clinical Relevance

This study provides preclinical evidence that SBM may support hair regeneration via FGF activation, offering a potential alternative to finasteride/minoxidil. However, as SBM contains multiple herbs (including hepatotoxic Polygonum multiflorum), users should not self-administer based on these results. The 100 mg/kg mouse dose does not translate directly to humans, and safety of chronic use is unverified. Clinically, this mechanistic insight could guide future development of targeted FGF-pathway therapies, but SBM itself requires rigorous human trials before therapeutic recommendation. Users should consult healthcare providers due to Polygonum multiflorum’s documented liver injury risks.