A study published in Cosmetics investigated the anti-aging and anti-hair loss effects, along with the hair growth-promoting potential, of coffee berry extract (CBE) in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and hair follicle dermal papilla (HFDP) cells. Additionally studied were the coffee berry extract's major components.
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HDF cells were used to determine antioxidant, cell proliferation and anti-collagenase activities. Additionally, HFDP cells evaluated the effects of the extract on hair cell proliferation, 5α-reductase inhibition and gene expression of IGF-1, KGF, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and VEGF. In all experiments, caffeine and chlorogenic acid were used as positive controls. The major compounds of CBE were identified as caffeine and chlorogenic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography.
CBE showed skin anti-aging properties including enhanced keratinocyte cell proliferation and superoxide dismutase activity, and inhibited nitric oxide and collagenase activities. Additionally, CBE showed an increase in dermal papilla cell numbers as well as the mRNA expression of hair growth-related factors including IGF-1, KGF and VEGF, the essential growth factors for prolonging the anagen (growth) phase in the hair cycle. CBE also exhibited good inhibitory activity against 5α-reductase.
According to the authors, these findings confirmed that CBE has potential as an active ingredient for anti-aging, anti-hair loss, and hair growth stimulation. To the author's knowledge, the presented work is the first report comparing the anti-hair loss and hair growth-promoting effects of caffeine, chlorogenic acid and coffee berry extract in cell-based assays.
