Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) fruit extract promotes hair growth via β-catenin signaling pathway

Abstract

Hair loss adversely affects quality of life, while current treatments often pose side effects or high cost. This study investigated the hair growth-promoting effects of blue honeysuckle fruit aqueous extraction (BHAE) and its major component, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G). BHAE enhanced proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and activated Erk, Akt, Gsk-3β, and β-catenin signaling. In C57BL/6 mice, oral administration of BHAE accelerated the transition from telogen to anagen phase and increased hair follicle size and number. Molecular analysis revealed that β-catenin activation upregulated growth factors and cyclins. UHPLC–MS/MS and HPLC analysis identified C3G, a major anthocyanin, in BHAE. C3G replicated BHAE’s effect by promoting HFDPCs proliferation and upregulating β-catenin, growth factors, and cyclins. These findings suggest that BHAE, a C3G-rich extract, promotes hair growth by activating β-catenin signaling and upregulating key proliferative factors, highlighting its potential as functional food or cosmeceutical for hair regeneration.