Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Polygonum Multiflorum in Treating Androgenic Alopecia Using Bioinformatics and Molecular Docking

July 2025 in “ Medicine ”

Xiaoling Zhong, 聡史壷井

Polygonum multiflorum androgenic alopecia resveratrol chrysophanol minoxidil finasteride emodin PIK3CA PIK3CB autophagy apoptosis oxidative stress inflammatory response hepatotoxicity rhein PM APA Rogaine Propecia

TLDR Polygonum multiflorum may help treat hair loss but can be toxic to the liver.

The study explores the molecular mechanisms of Polygonum multiflorum (PM) in treating androgenic alopecia (APA) using bioinformatics and molecular docking. It identifies seven key active components, including resveratrol and chrysophanol, which show high binding affinities to target proteins involved in APA pathways. PM's components may inhibit negative regulators of hair growth, promoting hair growth similarly to minoxidil and finasteride. The study highlights PM's role in regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, autophagy, and apoptosis, with emodin showing significant binding activity with PIK3CA and PIK3CB proteins. However, PM's hepatotoxicity, linked to emodin and rhein, necessitates caution in clinical use. The findings suggest PM could offer new therapeutic options for APA, though further validation is needed.

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