minoxidil (Headway / minoxidil, Pacific)

In Vivo Study of Topical Bimatoprost, Latanoprost, Travoprost in Comparison with Minoxidil on Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice.

Navale Vrushali Shankar VS, Marathe Padmaja Anil PA, Patil Sharmila P SP

Alopecia significantly affects psychological well-being and social functioning. Standard treatments, like minoxidil and finasteride, are limited by delayed efficacy, need for lifelong use, and adverse effects. Prostaglandin analogs (PGAs), originally developed for ocular hypertension, have shown promise in promoting hair growth. This study compares their effects with minoxidil in a murine model. To compare the effects of bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice, with evaluation of hair density, follicle diameter, and growth rate using minoxidil as the comparator. After Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval, 40 male C57BL/6 mice (aged 6-7 weeks, weighing 20-25 g) were randomized into five groups ( n = 8 in each group): (1) vehicle control, (2) minoxidil 5%, (3) latanoprost 0.005%, (4) bimatoprost 0.03%, and (5) travoprost 0.004%. Drugs were applied topically to shaved dorsal skin daily for 28 days. Hair growth was assessed by follicle density, bulb diameter, and area of regrowth using ImageJ from photographs taken on days 1, 7, 15, and 28. All PGAs significantly increased hair density compared to vehicle control (vehicle control: 1.50 ± 0.55 vs. latanoprost: 7.50 ± 1.69, bimatoprost: 7.75 ± 2.87, travoprost: 6.87 ± 3.40; P = 0.001). Latanoprost and bimatoprost showed higher hair density than minoxidil (3.75 ± 2.87; P = 0.038 and 0.010, respectively). Hair follicle diameter was greater with PGAs (latanoprost: 53.12 ± 5.30, bimatoprost: 51.87 ± 7.52, travoprost: 48.12 ± 3.47 μm) versus vehicle control (27.91 ± 5.57 μm, P = 0.001) and minoxidil (38.12 ± 5.46 μm, P = 0.001). Bimatoprost showed the greatest regrowth by day 28, while latanoprost demonstrated earlier onset by day 15. PGAs also caused darker pigmentation and longer hair. The present study duration was limited to 4 weeks. Minoxidil (positive control) did not show noticeable hair growth because its effects usually take 6-8 weeks to appear. Topical PGAs improved key hair growth parameters. Bimatoprost and latanoprost showed early and superior efficacy by day 28.

"Personalized Minoxidil Therapy in Androgenetic Alopecia: From SULT1A1 Biomarkers to Precision Clinical Management".

Debnath Monalisha M, Kapoor Rinky R, Patil Raji R, Saptarshi Varad V et al.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of progressive hair loss, affecting millions of people all around the world and having a considerable psychological, social, and economic impact. Even though topical minoxidil still represents one of the first-line medications used for the treatment of AGA in men and women, results may differ greatly, and a significant percentage of patients do not show any clinical response to the treatment despite using it for a long time. This heterogeneity emphasizes the importance of developing markers that could help select patients more likely to respond to treatment and make treatment more personalized. Follicular sulfotransferase family 1A member 1 (SULT1A1), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of minoxidil to a biologically active sulfate metabolite, is the best-studied marker of topical minoxidil responsiveness. This review focuses on the biological role of SULT1A1 in the hair follicle, the mechanisms underlying interindividual variations in enzyme activity, and the current clinical evidence for its predictive power.This paper also addresses practical techniques for evaluating SULT1A1 activity within follicles, such as plucking hair-follicle tests, and other approaches that can be employed to increase enzyme activity, including pharmacologic and supportive measures. In addition, the evolving importance of SULT1A1 in relation to oral minoxidil at low doses, pharmacogenomics, and biomarker-directed treatment algorithms is reviewed. Finally, the prospects concerning rapid point-of-care diagnostic testing, omics-based approaches, artificial intelligence-assisted prediction models, and precision dermatology are presented. Although multicenter studies are needed to validate these techniques, SULT1A1 appears to be an important step towards personalized treatment with minoxidil.

Bridging Therapy and Safety of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil: A Novel Investigation of a Common Approach.

Maas Derek D, Spindler Archie A, Zappi Isabella I, Kantor Jolie J et al.

Re-evaluating the Tolerability of Combined Spironolactone and Oral Minoxidil.

Zheng Piao P, Lei Caiyun C