"Does 'Centella Asiatica EV × Growth Factors' Accelerate Hair Growth? The Potential of Plant-Derived Exosomes for 'Hair': How Far Has the 'Topical Hair Growth Science' Come?"

1. What was announced: Summary of the Research

On September 12, 2025, a clinical trial preprint titled "A 56-Day Randomized, Double-Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Assessment of Scalp Health and Hair Growth Parameters with a Centella asiatica Extracellular Vesicle and Growth Factor-Based Essence" was published on medRxiv. As the title suggests, a rigorous design of 56 days, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled was adopted, which is considered robust in the cosmetic/quasi-medical field. Since the submission is to a preprint server, it has not yet undergone peer review. medRxiv

The trial randomly assigned 60 healthy adults aged 18-60 into five groups: ① placebo, ② base with 0.1% caffeine + panthenol, ③ base + long-acting rIGF-1 & rFGF-7, ④ base + Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) derived EV, and ⑤ base + growth factors + EV, a "full combination" for comparative analysis. Each group applied the topical treatment to the scalp once daily, with evaluations on days 14/28/42/56. The primary evaluation metrics included measurements such as sebum amount, hair density, hair diameter, hair length, and hair loss count. The abstract concludes that the combined formulation (⑤) showed the most extensive improvements. ResearchGate

2. Contents of the Results: What Improved and by How Much

The preprint abstract only mentions "statistically significant improvements," but strong figures like "approximately 25% increase in hair density" have been widely circulated in general articles. It is important to note that these figures are summaries by the media and not confirmed values from a formally peer-reviewed paper. ResearchGate

Moreover, changes observed in the short term (8 weeks) may only represent "initial signals" when considering the hair follicle growth cycle (anagen, catagen, telogen). Therefore, further verification is needed for the sustainability of effects, rebound, and behavior after discontinuation of application. The preprint itself should be read considering its short duration and focus on healthy volunteers. ResearchGate

3. What is Unique: Synergy of Plant-Derived EV × Growth Factors

The "core" of this study lies in the combination of extracellular vesicles (EV) derived from Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) and growth factors IGF-1/FGF-7. EVs are nanosized particles that carry intercellular information and have been noted in dermatology as carriers of signals for wound healing and anti-inflammation. Recent preclinical reports on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Gotu Kola EVs have been increasing, serving as a foothold for clinical application. ResearchGate

FGF-7 (also known as KGF) has long been known as an endogenous factor that promotes hair follicle growth and differentiation, and IGF-1 has been shown to work in a direction (growth support) that antagonizes DHT action in the dermal papilla. These backgrounds can be said to be the "rationale" for the formulation design in this study. medRxiv

4. Clear "Limitations": Bias Factors and Extrapolation

The preprint is before peer review, and the certainty of the evidence remains at the preliminary stage. medRxiv clearly states that it should not be used as a basis for clinical judgment. Furthermore, since the authors include a company (Schweitzer Biotech Company), transparency of COI (conflict of interest) and reproduction tests by third parties are essential. The possibility that the subjects are mainly healthy individuals also makes generalization to patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or FAGA difficult. medRxiv

The evaluation period is 56 days, which is short for determining effects on chronic conditions like AGA. In the case of topical methods, to confirm the transition from catagen to anagen and the reversibility of miniaturization, a follow-up of at least several months to a year is desirable. ResearchGate

5. Positioning with Existing Therapies: Where to "Align"

Currently, options include finasteride or dutasteride for men, minoxidil topical for both genders, and LLLT (low-level laser therapy) as a supplementary option. Some of these have been proven effective through large-scale trials and meta-analyses. However, from the perspective of side effects, indications, and cost-effectiveness, there remains room for "complementary new technologies." The topical application of EV × growth factors in this study is theoretically reasonable as an "adjunct therapy," but direct comparative trials are yet to be conducted. medRxiv

6. Reactions on Social Media: Enthusiasm and Skepticism Coexist

Immediately after the preprint was published, it rapidly became a topic on news sites and social media. Headlines like "25% increase in density in 8 weeks" attracted attention and spread to communities outside of the medical field. Meanwhile, on Reddit's hair loss forums, there were voices pointing out limitations such as the gender composition of subjects (whether it was female-biased), the validity of photo comparisons, and the short duration and focus on healthy individuals. Overall, the sentiment is "interesting but still lacking decisive evidence." 

Additionally, links were shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the official medRxiv account and individual accounts, and posts introducing the study were seen on Facebook by general users. Access to the full text of the primary information is unstable due to viewing restrictions, but sharing and mentions at the URL level are spreading. X (formerly Twitter)

7. "Next Steps" Toward Practical Application

(1) Long-term trials in patient groups: At least 6-12 months of follow-up in patients meeting diagnostic criteria such as AGA or FAGA.
(2) Confirmation of reproducibility by third parties: Verification through independent trials or multicenter collaborative research without corporate involvement.
(3) Strict comparison controls: Direct comparisons with standard treatments like minoxidil or finasteride, or combination trials.
(4) Identification of biological markers: Molecular markers such as sebum, inflammation, scalp microbiome, and hair follicle stem cell markers linked with clinical outcomes.
(5) Optimization of dosage, frequency, and base formulation: The contribution of the base with 0.1% caffeine + panthenol also needs to be dissected. ResearchGate

8. Practical Advice for Readers (Cautionary Note)

• The paper on which this article is based is a preprint and cannot be used as a basis for medical judgment. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting or changing treatment. medRxiv

• The safety and interactions with existing standard treatments are not yet established.

• "8-week indicator improvement" and "long-term hair growth and maintenance" are separate issues.Further testing and peer review are awaited.

9. Summary

This study initially presents clinical data on the concept of "delivering" plant-derived EVs and growth factors topically. While the careful design (randomization, double-blind, multi-group comparison) is commendable, scientific hurdles such as observation period, subject selection, COI, and reproducibility are high. The enthusiasm on social media is understandable, but it is "nothing more or less than the promise of a hypothesis." The next report (peer-reviewed paper, long-term follow-up, patient group) will determine its true value. ResearchGate

References and Background Links

• Relevant preprint (summary/meta information) and PDF information, research abstract (ResearchGate) medRxiv

• medRxiv's warning of "non-peer-reviewed, not for clinical judgment" medRxiv

• Examples of existing treatments: Finasteride, LLLT review medRxiv

• Basics of growth factors: FGF-7/KGF and hair follicles, involvement of IGF-1 medRxiv

• Examples of reactions on SNS and communities (News, Reddit, X, Facebook) Earth.comReddit