Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Mar;31(3):449-53.

t-flavanone, a hair regrowth enhancing active component,decreases TGF-beta2)…..

Sasajima M, et al

t-flavone is a synthetic compound with hair regrowth enhancing activity that is effective against male pattern alopecia.t-Flavanone was designed as a derivative of astilbin, the active hair growth enhancing component of Hypericum perforatum extracts. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of hair regrowth enhancement by t-flavanone. We investigated the effects of t-flavanone on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), a known catagen-inducing factor induced in hair papilla cells by male hormone. When t-flavanone was added to cocultures of human hair papilla cells and human keratinocytes, there was no change in the total level of TGF-beta2. However, levels of active TGF-beta2 were reduced, suggesting the involvement oft-flavanone in the activation pathway of TGF-beta2. ….. t-Flavanone is a hair regrowth enhancing component that has a novel mechanism of action which suppresses TGF-beta2 activation, and thereby is expected to treat other types of alopecia in addition to male pattern hair loss.

Edited for hair loss treatment blog use

Hair Loss Blog Hair loss blog at md.st

Hair loss blog at peterproctor.com

Hair loss Blog at drproctor.com

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 Dec;34(8):e937-40.

Topical tacrolimus suppresses the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 in late anagen.
Wang Y, et al

Abstract
Tacrolimus has shown promising results in the treatment of various dermatological diseases, including hair loss. ….. In this study, we investigated the effects of topical tacrolimus on anagen in the hair cycle and on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNAs in mouse skin. Topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment was applied to one side of the skin of depilated C57BL/6 mice. snip.. No obvious difference in skin colour, hair cycling or histological features was found between the treated and untreated skin, but the levels of Vegf mRNA and Igf-1 mRNA were markedly decreased in the treated skin in late anagen, compared with those in untreated skin.

Hair loss and insulin resistance
Nabaie L, ET AL

Edited for Hair loss blog

Hair loss in androgenic alopecia is androgen-dependent. Insulin is found in hair follicles and may play a role in the regulation of androgen metabolism and the hair-regrowth cycle. To compare the insulin resistance between people with androgenic alopecia and a control group. A case-control study was conducted with 97 cases in the patient and 87 in the control group. Serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were all measured in both groups. There was no difference in serum fasting insulin level, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and insulin resistance between the two groups. Despite previous reports suggesting a link, our study found no significant relationship between insulin resistance and pattern hair loss. Further studies are warranted.