A humble plant extract made from pea sprouts, known as Anagain, has shown some promising results in early human and lab studies as a potential treatment for hair loss. It’s thought to potentially influence gene expression in hair follicle cells, helping to promote growth and regeneration.
How the hair cycle works
Every hair follicle cycles through three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (resting) and telogen (shedding). In a healthy scalp, anywhere from 85%-95% of follicles are in the anagen phase at any one time, where the hair is actively growing. Then the follicle will move into the catagen phase, where growth stops, before finally the hair falls out and is replaced by a new one.
It’s natural to shed hairs, we all lose anywhere from 50-100 hairs every day. For anyone going through hair loss, the hair cycle becomes disrupted and doesn’t replace the shedding hair with a new one.
Somebody with healthy hair will usually have a ratio of anagen:telogen hairs of about 14:1 to 12:1, but in somebody with male pattern baldness (or another hair loss condition), the ratio often increases so more hairs than usual are in the shedding phase.
How does Anagain help with hair loss?
In one study, applying a gel containing 2% pea sprout extract to the scalp for two weeks appeared to ‘switch on’ genes involved in initiating the anagen (growth) phase and supporting follicle regeneration. Researchers analysed plucked scalp hairs and found increased expression of FGF7 (+56%) and Noggin (+85%), both of which are growth factors linked to triggering a new hair growth cycle.
Another study involving 20 participants with mild to moderate hair loss found that applying a gel with 4% Anagain for three months increased the number of hairs in the anagen phase and reduced those in telogen. Overall, the anagen-to-telogen ratio improved by 78%.
In a separate study of 21 participants taking 100 mg/day of Anagain as an oral supplement for 8 weeks, hair shedding reduced by 33.9% after 4 weeks. Around 95% of participants experienced less hair fall overall, with 86% reporting noticeable improvements.
Alongside its potential effects on growth-related genes, Anagain may also offer benefits through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could help support a healthier scalp environment.
Can Anagain help with male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness is mainly driven by DHT, a by-product of testosterone. In some men, hair follicles are more sensitive to DHT, which binds to them and causes them to shrink over time. This shortens the growth phase and prevents new hairs from properly replacing those that are shed, leading to progressive thinning.
Finasteride is a licensed treatment that works by reducing DHT levels, helping to slow or stop this process. Minoxidil, another licensed treatment, doesn’t directly affect DHT but still helps by improving blood flow, prolonging the growth phase, and supporting follicle regeneration.
Although Anagain doesn’t block DHT, that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t help. Like minoxidil, it may support hair growth through different mechanisms, such as encouraging follicles to re-enter the growth phase.
That said, the current evidence is limited. The studies so far are small, short-term, and don’t involve placebo controls or specifically target male pattern baldness. While the early results are promising, there’s not enough evidence to support Anagain as a standalone, long-term treatment.
If you’re trying to prevent or manage hair loss, combining treatments tends to give the best chance of results. Hair loss is influenced by multiple factors, so addressing it from different angles is usually the most effective approach.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
