It breaks down protein and it is directly related to hair growth. Bromelain supplements form an integral part of many natural hair care products.
Role played by some enzymes in hair growth
- Phenol-oxydase - It is partly responsible for the growth of melanocyte cells. These cells produce melanin, the pigment that determines the hair color.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) - They stimulate growth of cells in the hair follicle and maintain the dermal papilla cells. The latter is the main center of hair growth regulation and growth promotIon.
- Stromelysin - It acts on the dermal papilla cells and stimulates their activity.
- Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF - I) - It causes acceleration of growth of hair and hair follicles. Its actions are modulated by proteins produced in dermal papilla cells binding IGF. Body hair in patients with hyperinsulinism reportedly has a male distribution pattern.
- Androgens - Androgens have diverse effects on human hair varying in different parts of the body. The hair growth effects have diverse variations - essentialy nonexistent, weak, moderate, and strong.
- Effects on dermal papilla cells - Dermal papilla cells are mostly affected by 5- a-dihydrotestosterone. It is synthesized under the catalytic action of the enzyme 5- a-reductase.
The growth of androgen-dependent hairs are affected in various ways by -
