What is luteolin and where can it be found?

Luteolin is an antioxidant identified in vegetables such as celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers. It is also available as a supplement.

How does luteolin affect hair greying?

Luteolin may suppress hair greying by maintaining endothelins, which are proteins essential for cell-to-cell communication, thereby halting the drop in melanocyte function.

Can luteolin be used to prevent hair greying in humans?

The study's findings in mice show promising potential for human application, especially since luteolin is available as both topical and oral supplements.

Home / Health / Veggie Antioxidant Fights Hair Greying

Veggie Antioxidant Fights Hair Greying

8 Feb

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Summary

Luteolin, an antioxidant found in vegetables, may suppress hair greying.
Mice given luteolin retained black fur, unlike their grey-haired cage mates.
Luteolin's effect is linked to maintaining crucial cell communication pathways.

Research from Nagoya University in Japan suggests that a common antioxidant found in vegetables could help prevent hair from greying. The study, conducted by Masashi Kato and Takumi Kagawa, focused on luteolin, an antioxidant present in foods such as celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers.

In experiments, mice bred to exhibit age-related greying were given luteolin. These mice notably retained their black fur, contrasting with their cage mates who developed grey hair. This effect was observed regardless of whether luteolin was administered externally or internally.

The mechanism behind luteolin's anti-greying effect appears to be its ability to maintain endothelins, proteins crucial for cell-to-cell communication. By supporting these signaling pathways, luteolin helps prevent the decline in melanocyte function typically associated with hair greying.