Background/Aims: Hair exerts protection, sensory functions, thermoregulation, and sexual attractiveness. Hair loss (alopecia) is caused by several diseases, drug intake, hormone imbalance, stress, and infections (Malassesia furfur). Drugs usually used in alopecia produce irreversible systemic and local side effects. An association of extracts of Coffea arabica and Larrea divaricata (ECOHAIR®) is successfully being commercialized in Argentina for hair growth. The aim of this study was to provide scientific support for the efficacy and innocuousness of ECOHAIR® in patients with noncicatricial alopecia during a 3-month treatment. Methods: The efficacy was determined through the assessment of an increase in hair volume, improvement in hair looks, growth of new hair, and a decrease in hair loss by the test of hair count and hair traction. The capacity to decrease the amount of dandruff was also evaluated as well as the adverse local effects caused by the treatment. Results: ECOHAIR® spray improved the overall hair volume and appearance; it increased its thickness, induced hair growth, and decreased hair loss. Besides, no adverse local reactions were observed upon treatment with the product. Conclusion: This study provides scientific support for the clinical use of ECOHAIR® as a treatment to be used in noncicatricial alopecia.

Keywords:
ECOHAIR®, Hair growth, Noncicatricial alopecia
1.
Ebling FJ: The biology of hair. Dermatol Clin 1987;5:467-481.
2.
Naito A, Sato T, Matsumoto T, Takeyama K, Yoshino T, Kato S, Ohdera M: Dihydrotestosterone inhibits murine hair growth via the androgen receptor. Br J Dermatol 2008;159:300-305.
3.
Schneider MR, Schmidt-Ullrich R, Paus R: The hair follicle as a dynamic miniorgan. Curr Biol 2009;19:R132-R142.
4.
Jahoda CA, Reynolds AJ: Induction of follicle formation and hair growth by vibrissa dermal papillae implanted into rat ear wounds: vibrissae-type fibers are specified. Development 1992;115:1103-1109.
5.
Stenn KS, Paus R: Controls of hair follicle cycling. Physiol Rev 2001;81:449-494.
6.
Biernaskie J, Paris M, Morozova O, Fagan BM, Marra M, Pevny L, Miller FD: SKPs derive from hair follicle precursors and exhibit properties of adult dermal stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2009;5:610-623.
7.
Robinson M, Reynolds AJ, Jahoda CA: Hair cycle stage of the mouse vibrissa follicle determines subsequent fiber growth and follicle behavior in vitro. J Invest Dermatol 1997;108:495-500.
8.
Fujie T, Katoh S, Oura H, Urano Y, Arase S: The chemotactic effect of a dermal papilla cell-derived factor on outer root sheath cells. J Dermatol Sci 2001;25:206-212.
9.
Tiede S, Kloepper JE, Whiting DA, Paus R: The “follicular trochanter”: an epithelial compartment of the human hair follicle bulge region in need of further characterization. Br J Dermatol 2007;157:1013-1016.
10.
Paus R, Cotsareli G: The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med 1999;341:491- 497.
11.
Kwon OS, Han JH, Yoo HG, Chung JH, Cho KH, Kim KH: Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Phytomedicine 2007;14:551-555.
12.
Luanpitpong S, Nimmannit U, Chanvorachote P, Leonard SS, Pongrakhananon V, Wang L, Rojanasakul Y: Hydroxyl radical mediates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells and keratinocytes through Bcl-2-dependent mechanism. Apoptosis 2011;16:769-782.
13.
Hogg N: Free radicals in disease. Semin Reprod Endocrinol 1998;16:241-248.
14.
Liu N, Wang LH, Guo LL, Wang GQ, Zhou XP, Jiang Y, Shang J, Murao K, Chen JW, Fu WQ, Zhang GX: Chronic restraint stress inhibits hair growth via substance P mediated by reactive oxygen species in mice. PLoS One 2013;8:e61574.
15.
Davicino R, Alonso R, Anesini C: Activity of a combination of decaffeinated coffee and Larrea divaricata Cav. aqueous extract on hair growth. Patent Bull 2010;44:P090101704.
16.
Ratera E, Ratera MO: Plantas de la flora Argentina empleadas en medicina popular. Buenos Aires, Hemisferio Sur, 1980.
17.
Anesini C, Genaro A, Cremaschi G, Sterin Borda L, Cazaux C, Borda E: Immunomodulatory activity of Larrea divaricata Cav. Fitoterapia 1996;67:329-333.
18.
Anesini C, Ferraro G, López P, Borda E: Different intracellular signals coupled to the antiproliferative action of aqueous crude extract from Larrea divaricata Cav. and nor-dihydroguaiaretic acid on a lymphoma cell line. Phytomedicine 2001;8:1-7.
19.
Anesini C, Perez C: Screening of plants used in Argentine folk medicine for antimicrobial activity. J Ethnopharmacol 1993;39:119-128.
20.
Stege P, Davicino R, Vega A, Casali Y, Correa S, Micalizzi B: Antimicrobial activity of aqueous extract of Larrea divaricata Cav. (jarilla) against Helicobacter pylori. Phytomedicine 2006;13:724-727.
21.
Anesini C, Turner S, Borda E, Ferraro G, Coussio J: Effect of Larrea divaricata Cav. extract and nordihydroguaiaretic acid upon peroxidase secretion in rat submandibulary glands. Pharmacol Res 2004;49:441-448.
22.
Walker CV, Gisvold OJ: A phytochemical investigation of Larrea divaricata Cav. J Am Pharmaceut Assoc 1945;34:78-81.
23.
Ramalakshmi K, Rahath Kubra I, Jagan Mohan Rao L: Antioxidant potential of low-grade coffee beans. Food Res Int 2008;41:96-103.
24.
Almeida AA, Farah A, Silva DA, Nunan EA, Gloria MB: Antibacterial activity of coffee extracts and selected coffee chemical compounds against enterobacteria. Agric Food Chem 2006;54:8738-8743.
25.
Davicino R, Anesini C: Antifungal activities of aqueous extract of decaffeinated coffee against Malassezia furfur. Patent Bull 2009;40:P080104413.
© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel
2017
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.