Herbal Approaches for the Management of Premature Hair Greying: Mechanisms, Phytoconstituents, and Delivery Strategies

This review explores herbal approaches for managing premature hair greying (PHG), focusing on mechanisms, phytoconstituents, and delivery strategies. It highlights the limitations of synthetic dyes and emphasizes the potential of herbal remedies to maintain follicular melanin, enhance antioxidant defenses, and improve melanogenic pathways. Ethnopharmacological leads from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese Kampo, and Unani medicine include Eclipta alba, Emblica officinalis, and others, with phytoconstituents like gallic acid and wedelolactone. Advanced delivery systems such as ethosomes and nanostructured lipid carriers may enhance treatment efficacy. However, the review stresses the need for botanical authenticity, standardization, toxicological profiling, and controlled trials to validate these treatments, suggesting they remain evidence-developing until further human research is conducted.