The Efficacy of a Topical Teak Leaf Extract for Androgenetic Alopecia

by | Dec 11, 2024 | 2024, Botanicals, Hair and Nails, Men's Health, Recent Articles

Written by Harold Oster, MD. Results suggest that a topical teak leaf extract promotes hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.

Men's healthAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia worldwide, affecting eighty percent of men and fifty percent of women over age seventy. Normally, 80-90% of hair follicles are in the anagen or growth phase, with a small percentage in the telogen or resting phase. Individuals with AGA have high levels of 5-alpha-reductase type II (5AR), the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in hair follicles. An elevated level of DHT reduces the percentage of hair follicles in the anagen phase, leading to hair shedding1. The medications finasteride and minoxidil promote hair growth in individuals with AGA. Finasteride inhibits 5AR, while minoxidil increases the anagen phase by multiple mechanisms, including improving arteriolar vasodilation. The teak tree (Tectona grandis), distributed throughout much of Asia, is well-known for its timber. Its seeds and leaves contain bioactive compounds, some of which act as 5AR inhibitors2.

Nutchaninad Tanuphol, B.ATM, et al. studied the effects of a hair tonic containing teak leaf extract in men with androgenetic alopecia. The authors recruited ninety men between twenty and sixty years old with an AGA grade of two through five on the Hamilton-Norwood hair loss scale3. The participants randomly received one of three hair tonics: 1% teak leaf extract, 5% minoxidil, or placebo. Each participant applied 3-5 drops of their assigned tonic twice daily for 24 weeks. The tonic’s efficacy was evaluated every four weeks with the Total Area Hair Count test4 and a measurement of the anagen-telogen ratio5. Hair shedding was counted by an investigator every four weeks after the subjects gently combed their hair from vertex to temporal regions on both sides. At the end of the study, participants completed questionnaires regarding hair-regrowth efficacy on a seven-point scale ranging from -3, meaning significantly worse, to +3, meaning significantly improved. Participants also answered questions regarding dermatologic, cardiovascular, and sexual side effects.

The authors noted the following:

  • Based on exclusion criteria, 81 participants completed the study.
  • The average age of participants was 43.75 in the teak group, 41.74 in the minoxidil group, and 40.22 in the placebo group.
  • Total Area Hair Count improved in the teak and minoxidil groups but not in the placebo group.
  • The anagen to telogen ratio significantly improved in the teak and minoxidil groups but did not change in the placebo group.
  • The hair-shedding test improved in the teak and minoxidil groups compared to the placebo group.
  • Hair regrowth satisfaction improved more in participants who applied minoxidil (mean increase of 1.82) or teak leaf extract (mean increase of 2.04) than those who applied placebo. (mean increase of 1.43)
  • No side effects were noted in any group.

Results suggest that a topical teak leaf extract promotes hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia. A limitation of the study is the lack of evaluation of the participants’ family history of androgenetic alopecia.

Source: Tanuphol, Nutchaninad, Neti Waranuch, Vanuchawan Wisuitiprot, Wudtichai Wisuitiprot, Kamonlak Insumrong, Prapapan Temkitthawon, Nungruthai Suphrom, Katechan Jampachaisri, Corine Girard, and Kornkanok Ingkaninan. “Effectiveness and Safety of Hair Growth Formulation Containing Tectona grandis Lf (Teak) Leaf Extract: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on Males with Androgenic Alopecia.” Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 29 (2024): 2515690X241291141.

© The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/2515690X241291141 journals.sagepub.com/home/cam

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted December 11, 2024.

Harold Oster, MD graduated from medical school in Miami, Florida in 1992 and moved to Minnesota in 2004. After more than 25 years of practicing Internal Medicine, he recently retired. Dr. Oster is especially interested in nutrition, weight management, and disease prevention. Visit his website at haroldoster.com.

References:

  1. Devjani S, Ezemma O, Kelley KJ, Stratton E, Senna M. Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapy Update. Drugs. Jun 2023;83(8):701-715. doi:10.1007/s40265-023-01880-x
  2. Insumrong K, Ingkaninan K, Waranuch N, et al. Isolation and HPLC Quantitative Determination of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors from Tectona grandis L.f. Leaf Extract. Molecules. Apr 30 2022;27(9)doi:10.3390/molecules27092893
  3. Guarrera M, Cardo P, Arrigo P, Rebora A. Reliability of hamilton-norwood classification. Int J Trichology. Jul 2009;1(2):120-2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.58554
  4. Price VH, Menefee E. Quantitative estimation of hair growth. I. androgenetic alopecia in women: effect of minoxidil. The Journal of investigative dermatology. Dec 1990;95(6):683-7. doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12514348
  5. Hu D, Tu P, Yang S. Comparison Between Trichoscopic and Histopathological Evaluations of Hair Parameters. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:843-849. doi:10.2147/ccid.S365670
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