In Vivo and In Silico Evaluation of Petroselinum crispum Leaf Fractions as Anti-Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), commonly known as baldness is marked by hair loss on the scalp or other body areas, ranging from small patches to complete hair loss, potentially leading to significant psychological stress. In AGA, the activation of androgen receptors shortens the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, resulting in follicular miniaturization and production of thinner hair follicles that fail to penetrate the epidermis. This condition is characterized by a reduced anagen-to-telogen hair ratio and elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Empirical use of Petroselinum crispum leaves for treating alopecia has prompted scientific investigation. Previous in silico studies identified 24 compounds in Petroselinum crispum, with six of them showing potential binding to the androgen receptor and compete with DHT. This study aims to examine the anti-alopecia activity of Petroselinum crispum leaf ethyl acetate fractions in vivo and in silico. In vivo evaluation employed rabbit model of alopecia, while in silico evaluation employed molecular docking on the androgen receptor. Ethyl acetate fractions 2 and 4 demonstrated the highest hair growth promoting activity, with significant increases in hair length (1.11±0.02 cm and 1.23±0.01 cm, respectively) and hair weight (0.125±0.02 g and 0.10±0.02 g, respectively), comparable to minoxidil. LC-MS analysis of these fractions identified several compounds, with paeonilactone C1 exhibiting the highest binding energy (-6.6 Kcal/mol), surpassing that of minoxidil. Fractions 2 and 4 of Petroselinum crispum leaves showed the most promising hair growth promoting activity, and could be developed into a hair tonic for the treatment and prevention of alopecia.