Unique compound from Korean ginseng shows promising effects against hair loss

Graphical abstract. Credit: Industrial Crops and Products (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.122686

A research team led by Professor Tae-Gyu Lim from the Department of Food Science and Biotechnology at Sejong University has published a study that scientifically demonstrates the hair growth-promoting and anti-androgenetic alopecia effects of ginsenoside Rf, a bioactive compound uniquely found in Korean ginseng.

The study was published in the journal Industrial Crops and Products under the title “Hair growth-promoting activity of ginsenoside Rf from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, an industrial crop-derived functional material.”

Androgenetic alopecia is a representative degenerative hair disorder closely associated with androgen signaling. Existing therapeutic agents have raised ongoing concerns regarding side effects and long-term use. Against this backdrop, the research team focused on ginsenoside Rf, a naturally derived compound that is uniquely present in Korean ginseng.

Key findings from the mouse model study

Using an androgenetic alopecia mouse model, the researchers demonstrated that oral administration of ginsenoside Rf significantly improved the hair growth cycle, even under androgen-suppressed conditions.

Furthermore, the treatment led to marked increases in hair follicle number, follicle size, and hair shaft thickness. Histological examinations and quantitative analyses clearly confirmed that ginsenoside Rf exerts a positive effect on overall hair growth.

Mechanism of action and scientific significance

Notably, this study elucidated a novel mechanism of action for ginsenoside Rf by identifying its role in regulating the stability of the androgen receptor (AR) protein. The findings revealed that ginsenoside Rf promotes ubiquitin-mediated degradation of AR, thereby effectively suppressing androgen signaling, which is a central pathological driver of androgenetic alopecia. This represents a previously unreported molecular mechanism in hair loss research.

The study has been accepted for publication in Industrial Crops and Products, a journal ranked within the top 5% by impact factor (IF) in its field and second in its category, highlighting both the scientific rigor and international competitiveness of the research.

Expert commentary and future outlook

Professor Lim stated, “This study is significant as it is the first to scientifically elucidate the superiority of ginsenoside Rf, a unique component of Korean ginseng, from the perspective of hair health.”

He added, “Beyond simple efficacy observations, we systematically demonstrated the underlying mechanism through animal experiments and molecular biological analyses, thereby elevating the functional value of Korean ginseng.”

He further noted, “We expect that our findings will serve as a solid scientific foundation for the future development of natural hair loss-preventive materials and functional products.”