DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of present study was to investigate hair growth promoting effects of extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves. The extracts of powdered leaves were obtained in various solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, ethanol and distilled water) using hot and cold extraction methods. Phytochemical analysis of leaves was performed on powder and extracts of leaves using already reported methods. Mineral analysis was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Hair growth promoting effects were examined using alopecia mouse model. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of higherquantities of carbohydrates, proteins and secondary metabolites in methanol compared to other extracting solvents. Moreover, only ethanol (5 and 10%) and petroleum ether (5%) demonstrated significant hair growth promoting effects (p < 0.05) compared to standard, i.e., 5% minoxidil and extracts in other solvents. Likewise, ethanol (5% and 10 %) and petroleum ether (5%) extract had significant impact (p < 0.05) on hair length in comparison to minoxidil, however, no significant differences were observed between ethanol (5% and 10%) extracts and minoxidil on mice hair diameter. Taken together, our data suggested that ethanol extracts of leaves of T. foenum-graecum had significantly higher growth promoting effects compared to standard, i.e., minoxidil. Thus, results from our study set the stage of further studies to identify the constituents in ethanol extracts, responsible for hair growth promoting effects.