Stevioside, a natural sweetener derived from the Stevia plant, can improve topical minoxidil’s absorption into the skin, according to new research in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
Topical minoxidil has poor water solubility and skin permeability, but In a mouse model of alopecia, a dissolving patch formulation of stevioside with minoxidil effectively promoted hair follicles to enter the growth phase, leading to new hair development.
“Using stevioside to enhance minoxidil delivery represents a promising step toward more effective and natural treatments for hair loss, potentially benefiting millions worldwide,” says Co–corresponding Author Lifeng Kang, PhD, of the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia.
