ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Free access

Esperienze Dermatologiche 2018 June;20(2 Suppl 1):27-30

DOI: 10.23736/S1128-9155.18.00459-4

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Strengthening hair with Centella asiatica: a report of clinical and subjective efficacy of a local treatment with a 0.5% hair lotion

Stefano TOGNI ¹, Giada MARAMALDI ¹, Martino MENEGHIN ¹, Roberto EGGENHOFFNER ², Luca GIACOMELLI ² ✉

¹ Indena S.p.A., Milan, Italy; ² Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

BACKGROUND: Hair follicles represent a regenerating organ, surrounded by a dense capillary network and sebaceous gland, with some capillaries penetrating to perfuse also the dermal papilla that promotes follicular growth. Centella asiatica is an Ayurvedic herb of the Umbellifere family, containing high levels of the glycosylated triterpenes Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, known respectively to facilitate collagen III and boost collagen I synthesis at perivascular tissue level. These properties improve follicle perfusion and metabolism, and thus extracts from Centella asiatica may be helpful to strengthen and invigorate hair, with a strong potential for hair care applications.
METHODS: Our study evaluated these targets by comparing the efficacy and tolerance/appreciation of a hair lotion containing Centella asiatica extract (Centerox®), versus a placebo lotion, in 30 volunteers with telogen effluvium or mild to moderate alopecia, 15 per group. The volunteers used 2 mL of the assigned lotion each day over a period of 4-8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by means of the pull test and wash test, whereas tolerance was self-assessed with a questionnaire. Additionally, an in vitro study was performed to evaluate the ability of Centella asiatica triterpenes to improve epidermal cohesion and dermal-epidermal junction on epidermal keratinocytes.
RESULTS: The lotion containing Centella asiatica allowed a 41% decrease in hair loss in the washing test, and a small increase in hair strength in the pull test (P<0.05). The product was well tolerated. A 33% increase in laminin-5 expression was also observed in the in-vitro study (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Centerox® is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of alopecia, resulting in improved hair strengthening and decreased hair loss. Moreover, triterpenes upregulate laminin-5, responsible for hair growth, due to their action in cells differentiations, migration, adhesion and phenotypes expressions.

KEY WORDS: Centella asiatica extract - Hair preparations - Alopecia