What is it?
Procyanidin B-2 is a type of flavonoid that is found in a variety of plants, including apples and cocoa. It is believed to have a variety of health benefits, including the potential to improve hair growth. Some studies have suggested that procyanidin B-2 may stimulate the production of hair follicles and may also help to increase blood flow to the scalp, which may stimulate hair growth. However, more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of procyanidin B-2 for improving hair growth.
Is it safe? Are there side effects?
Isolated procyanidin B-2 to a purity exceeding 94% from apple juice and subjected it to a series of toxicological studies (Takahashi et al., 1999b). Results confirm the safety of topical application of procyanidin B-2 to human skin.
Effects on Hair loss
Acts as a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, this molecules have been proved to stimulate (anagen phase) and to promote hair epithelial cell growth as (A.KAMIMURA AND T.TAKAHASHI) demonstrated back in 2001. The level of efficacy of 1 % procyanidin B-2 is concluded to compare favorably with minoxidil and finasteride therapy. In the procyanidin B-2 group, the increase in number of total hairs in the designated area (0.5 em square = 0.25 cml ) after the e-month trial was 6.68 ± 5.5 3 (mean ± SD)/0.25 cm2 , whereas in the placebo control group, the increase in number of total hair s was 0.0 8 ± 4.56 (mean ± SD)/0.25 cm2 (Table 2). It is calculated th at the increased number of total hairs in the designated area of procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects
Structure & Synthesis
20 kl of apple juice (Malus pumila Miller var) eluted and evaporated to produce 233 g of a dry solid.
Mechanisms of Action
The main mechanism of action of procyanidin B-2 is implied by its intensive growth-promoting action on hair epithelial cells (Takahashi et al., 1999a). The intensive anti-oxidative activity of procyanidin B-2 may be a significant contributor to its effects. The relation between male pattern baldness and inflammation has been pointed out by several researchers. It has been reported that lymphocytic inflammation was observed around hair follicles biopsied from patients showing male pattern baldness (Sueki et aI., 1999; Jaworsky et aI., 1992). Young et a1. (1991) also reported that the ratio of subjects showing inflammation of the scalp was 100 % in subjects with male pattern baldness, whereas the ratio was 66 % in non-balding subjects. Procyanidins are known to show the effect of decreasing inflammation due to their anti-oxidative properties (Haslam, 1996) and by their protease inhibiting action (Tixier et al., 1984). Therefore, it is supposed that the suppression of inflammation mediated by procyanidin B-2 returns the scalp to a healthy condition, consequently leading to a cure for baldness
