Abstract: To investigate the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of Flemingia prostrata extract (Fle) on dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in female C57BL/6 mice, twenty-one 8-week-old female mice were acclimated and randomly selected for three groups (n=6) after evaluating hair growth cycles and determining the AGA model establishment time: control group (DHT), minoxidil group (DHT + 2% topical minoxidil), and Fle group (DHT + oral Fle). DHT was applied topically on the shaved back of all mice daily for 15 days to induce hair loss. After the model was established, treatments were applied according to the schedule, with periodic photos taken to monitor hair regeneration. After 21 days of treatment, the mice were euthanized, and the hair diameter of back skin was measured. The back skin was collected for HE staining, and serum DHT levels were measured using ELISA. Results showed that in DHT-induced AGA mice, symptoms including a prolonged telogen phase, suppressed hair growth and follicular miniaturization were observed. Compared to the mice in control and minoxidil groups, oral Fle significantly promoted hair regeneration and increased hair shaft diameter in AGA mice. HE staining showed that oral Fle effectively restored the pathological changes caused by DHT, including reduced hair follicle count, decreased hair bulb depth, and smaller follicle volume. ELISA results indicated that oral Fle reduced serum DHT levels in AGA mice. Oral Fle shortened the time for AGA mice to transition from the telogen phase to anagen, promoted hair regeneration, increased hair shaft diameter, and lowered serum DHT levels.

Key words: androgenetic alopecia (AGA), Flemingia prostrata Roxb. f. ex Roxb., dihydrotestosterone （DHT）