I’ve examined one study on Research Gate, which looked at how Glycine Soja affected hair growth when applied to the skin of mice treated with testosterone. The researches concluded that the soybean had a positive effect on hair growth. Although the researchers don’t go into in-depth detail about the mechanism(s) by which the treatment works, it would seem the plant extract inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase and therefore reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT. And that most likely explains why the testosterone-treated mice experienced greater hair growth.
So it would seem that glycine Soja is able to protect hair follicles from the damaging effect of DHT. Here’s an extract from the research:
Hair growth was observed in GSSZ-treated mice, and compared against that seen in 3 % minoxidil (MXD, positive control)-treated mice. Visual observations revealed a greater reduction in hair-loss in MXD and GSSZ application groups, compared to that in TXN group (hair loss induction using 1 %testosterone). Evaluation using an image analysis software revealed that compared to the positive control, TXN + GSSZ group showed the highest hair growth. TXN + MXD and control groups exhibited similar follicular cell growth, while the hair growth promotion patterns were similar in the negative control (normal), TXN + GSSZ, and TXN groups, as observed via histological analysis. GSSZ did not induce cytotoxicity (even at 2 mg/mL) in keratinocytes and dermal papilla cells; alternately, dermal papilla cell proliferation was activated in a (GSSZ) concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, the GSSZ extract promoted hair growth and increased hair growth-related cell activity, and could, therefore, be utilized in alopecia treatment
Via: ResearchGate
