Aekyung Industry Discovers Hair Loss Treatment Ingredient from Traditional Herb

Aekyung Industry has discovered a new functional ingredient for hair loss treatment derived from the traditional herbal plant Hyeonhoesaek, which has been used historically for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
 
The company will present its research findings on the new hair loss treatment ingredient at the 14th World Congress for Hair Research (WCHR) taking place at COEX in Seoul from May 28 to 31.
 
Aekyung will showcase the efficacy of L-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP), a component derived from Hyeonhoesaek, through a poster presentation.
 
Hyeonhoesaek has long been recognized in traditional medicine for its strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. L-THP is known to be a key component mediating these effects, but research on its impact on hair follicles has been limited until now. Aekyung has focused on this unexplored area.
 
The research confirmed that L-THP promotes the proliferation of human-derived dermal papilla cells and outer root sheath cells. It also induced the expression of hair growth factors VSCN, ALP, and VEGF.
 
Notably, in experiments involving human hair follicles, L-THP demonstrated the ability to promote hair growth and inhibit follicle regression, proving its potential as a new functional ingredient for hair loss treatment.
 
Aekyung is not stopping at research; it is also moving quickly toward commercialization. The company has secured patents related to L-THP and registered the ingredient with the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (ICID). Recent human application tests have also confirmed its excellent efficacy in alleviating hair loss symptoms.
 
Currently, Aekyung is preparing to apply for functional ingredient approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety under the name "tetrahydropalmatine."
 
With verified efficacy and differentiated material competitiveness, Aekyung plans to accelerate its entry into the premium hair care market both domestically and internationally.
 
As the global hair care market increasingly embraces the trend of "skinification," which treats the scalp like skin, interest in high-efficacy ingredients is rising. Aekyung intends to incorporate L-THP into various premium hair care lines, including shampoos and tonics.
 
According to global market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global hair care market is projected to grow from $78 billion in 2025 to $108.5 billion by 2031.
 
Im Seung-eun, a researcher at Aekyung's Cosmetics Research Institute, stated, "This research is a significant achievement in scientifically proving the hair loss treatment potential of the natural ingredient L-THP. We will strengthen our global market competitiveness through differentiated material research and functional hair care technology development."