Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 09, 2025 3 hours, 30 minutes ago
Medical News: Natural Sweetener Boosts Hair Growth Potential
Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia and the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmaceuticals at China Pharmaceutical University have discovered that stevioside, a natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant, could revolutionize hair loss treatment. The study found that combining stevioside with minoxidil, a common baldness medication, dramatically improved the drug’s absorption and effectiveness when applied through a dissolving microneedle patch.
Stevia Compound Shows Promise for Hair Regrowth Treatment
Androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male or female pattern baldness, affects millions worldwide. While topical minoxidil is widely used, its poor water solubility and limited skin penetration often result in slow or incomplete results. In this
Medical News report, the research team revealed that using stevioside as a carrier significantly enhances the solubility and skin delivery of minoxidil, promoting faster and denser hair regrowth.
How the Sweet Compound Works
Stevioside is a natural compound that acts like a surfactant—helping oily drugs mix more easily with water. By forming micelles, small molecular clusters that trap the minoxidil inside, stevioside increased the solubility of the drug nearly 18 times higher than normal. This allowed the active ingredient to pass more efficiently through the skin barrier.
The team designed a dissolving microneedle patch made from stevioside infused with minoxidil. When applied to the skin, the microneedles painlessly penetrate the upper layer of skin, releasing the drug directly into deeper tissues where hair follicles reside. This targeted delivery not only enhances absorption but also avoids the irritation and allergic reactions sometimes caused by alcohol-based topical minoxidil formulas.
Remarkable Hair Regrowth Results in Animal Studies
In experiments conducted on mice with hormone-induced hair loss, the stevioside-minoxidil microneedle patch stimulated rapid hair growth. Within just two weeks, new dark hair began appearing across treated areas, and by the 35th day, the mice displayed 67.5% coverage of the treated skin surface. This compared to only 25% regrowth in those treated with standard minoxidil solutions.
Further analysis showed that the stevioside patch promoted hair follicles to transition from the resting (telogen) phase to the active growth (anagen) phase, with thicker and more pigmented hair shafts forming. The study also found higher retention of the drug in the skin—18% versus only 8% with regular minoxidil—indicating deeper and longer-lasting action at the follicular level.
A New Era for Natural Hair Loss Therapies
This innovative approach combines the mechanical stimulation of microneedling with the biological benefits of stevioside, creating a dual-action system that enhances both circulation and drug delivery to the scalp. Researchers emphasized that steviosid
e’s safety record as a natural sweetener makes it an ideal candidate for future human trials.
According to lead researcher Dr. Lifeng Kang, “Using stevioside to enhance minoxidil delivery represents a promising step toward more effective and natural treatments for hair loss, potentially benefiting millions worldwide.”
A Healthier and Safer Option on the Horizon
The findings suggest that stevioside not only helps solubilize drugs like minoxidil but may also possess vasodilatory properties, improving blood flow to hair follicles. This dual benefit could make it one of the most effective and well-tolerated solutions for treating androgenetic alopecia. If confirmed in human studies, this natural sweetener may soon be part of a new generation of hair regrowth products that are safer, faster, and more efficient than existing treatments.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials.
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.202503575
For the latest on hair loss treatments, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-hope-for-hair-loss-treatment-as-ucla-scientists-discover-potential-breakthrough
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-study-reveals-black-pepper-compound-as-a-potential-hair-loss-treatment
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-decreased-growth-arrest-specific-6-gas6-and-saxl-plasma-levels-linked-to-hair-loss-in-post-covid-individuals
Share
Tweet
Share
