Luteolin, an antioxidant in vegetables, may contribute to the prevention of hair graying

Luteolin, an antioxidant in vegetables like celery and broccoli, shows potential in preventing hair graying by preserving melanocyte activity, offering a promising avenue for anti-aging hair care solutions.

The similarities between the hair graying processes in the model mice and humans offer encouraging prospects for translating these findings into human applications. In addition to being found in vegetables, luteolin is already available as a supplement for topical and oral use, making it a viable candidate for further development as an anti-graying treatment. As research progresses, this antioxidant could become a key ingredient in hair care regimens, helping individuals preserve their natural hair color as they age.

Open Access Paper:

Anti-Graying Effects of External and Internal Treatments with Luteolin on Hair in Model Mice

Little is known about the anti-graying effects of antioxidants on hair. The anti-graying effects of three antioxidants (luteolin, hesperetin, and diosmetin) on hair were investigated according to the sequential processes of hair graying that were previously clarified in model mice [Ednrb(+/−);RET-mice]. External treatment with luteolin, but not that with hesperetin or diosmetin, alleviated hair graying in Ednrb(+/−);RET-mice. Internal treatment with luteolin also mitigated hair graying in the mice. Although both luteolin treatments had very limited effects on hair cycles, the treatments suppressed the increase in p16ink4a-positive cells in bulges [senescent keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs)]. Both of the treatments also suppressed decreases in the expression levels of endothelins in KSCs and their receptor (Ednrb) in melanocyte stem cells (MSCs) and alleviated hair graying in the mice. Luteolin is a special antioxidant with an anti-graying potency through improvement of age-related dysfunction in signaling between endothelins in KSCs and their receptor in MSCs. Luteolin for topical and oral use is commercially available to people in the form of supplements. Similar processes of hair graying in Ednrb(+/−);RET-mice and humans have been reported. These results are encouraging for the practical application of luteolin as a medicine with an anti-graying effect on hair in humans.

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Powder available on Amazon for adding to your hair serum :slight_smile: Please report results, if you try this.

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Other than Nutricost (not my favorite), I’m not familiar with these brands. Bulk powder here is different from the capsules you take internally. If you do a search there are some threads about taking oral luteolin for things like CVD.

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Internal doesn’t work for treatment; maybe for prevention. Been on luteolin for about a year and a half.

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Also lowers uric acid, which may be a concern of yours.

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Luteolin is another HDAC inhibitor.

Good find. Luteolin has been on my radar as a weak senolytic. (Yousefzadeh et al. 2018) identified it as a less potent senolytic in Ercc1-/- MEFs alongside fisetin. It appears to be a BCL-2 inhibitor (Verma et al. 2017).

Unfortunately, like many flavonoids, it has low bioavailability.

In rats, luteolin’s oral bioavailability has clocked in from 4.1% (50 mg/kg) (Sarawek et al. 2008) to 17.5% (200 mg/kg) (Deng et al. 2017). If you’re looking to take it orally, MCS Formulas offers one of the only liposomal luteolin supplements. I experimented with it in an elaborate senolytic protocol in early 2024, but most of that was just hopeful whistling in the dark—I can’t point to any specific effects.


The Ednrb(+/−);RET mouse model used in this paper (Lida et al. 2024) appears to mimic age-related melanocyte loss in human hair follicles, so that’s a plus. The topical route (1% dissolved in 70% ethanol) is especially intriguing and easy to replicate. For reference, 1% luteolin = 1g of luteolin in 100 mL of 70% ethanol. Luteolin is a fairly bright yellow powder, though—so it might stain :man_shrugging:

Still, it’s good to see another contender in the war on graying hair.

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Luteolin to prevent (and hopefully reverse) hair graying. Well, that’s an interesting idea. From what I’ve read luteolin is not easily absorbed. Liposomal luteolin may be a better choice and may also be absorbed through the skin. But, a few drops of transcutol could help. So, could it be as simple as buying a bottle of liposomal luteolin and pouring the contents of a capsule in my hand? Then, add a few drops of transcutol and rub it together in my palms. Finally, rub the mixture into my scalp for that fabulous 50s look! Of course, this approach could turn out to be a messy failure, but I’ll think about it. If nothing else it sounds cheap.

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