MINI REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
This article is part of the Research TopicGlobal Health Perspectives on Empowering Women: Ethnopharmacological Approaches to Overcoming Health Challenges During MenopauseView all 5 articles
Botanical Drug Preparations for Alleviating Hair Loss in Menopausal Women: A Global Ethnopharmacological Mini-Review
Provisionally accepted
- Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen, China
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Menopause is a natural physiological transition affecting over one billion women globally. It often brings distressing symptoms, including hair loss, which impacts up to 52% of postmenopausal women due to estrogen decline, increased androgen sensitivity, and oxidative stress. Conventional treatments like minoxidil provide limited efficacy and may cause side effects, underscoring the need for accessible, culturally attuned alternatives. This mini-review explores ethnopharmacological approaches that empower women through traditional remedies targeting multi-mechanistic pathways, supported by emerging clinical data. We conducted a systematic literature search across databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science), focusing on studies from 2015–2025 involving botanical interventions. We prioritized randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in vitro studies, and animal models. Key remedies include saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), which inhibits 5α-reductase to reduce dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by approximately 30–40%; rosemary oil (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.), which promotes scalp microcirculation similar to minoxidil; and ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.), which enhances follicle proliferation via ginsenosides. Emerging evidence from 2024–2025 reviews highlights multi-target mechanisms in plant extracts, including phytoestrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Nutraceuticals have demonstrated improved hair density in menopausal cohorts. These low-cost, community-rooted therapies foster women's autonomy and cultural resilience. This mini-review is not comprehensive; it highlights key challenges in current research, such as limited menopausal-specific evidence and standardization gaps. It advocates for future priorities like interdisciplinary trials integrating ethnobotany with modern pharmacology to bridge global health disparities. This aligns with the special issue's vision of empowering women through sustainable, nature-based solutions.
Keywords: Menopausal hair loss, Ethnopharmacology, Traditional remedies, Botanical drugs, Phytoestrogens, hair follicle regeneration, women's empowerment, Global health perspectives
Received: 15 Oct 2025; Accepted: 14 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Huang, Zhao, Gao, Huang, Huang, Cai and Bi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Ming-hui Bi, xmzyy2025001@fjtcm.edu.cn
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