Anti-aging secret? This antioxidant can stop hair graying, discover scientists – The Times of India

The secret to stopping hair graying and achieving a youthful look could be hidden in a common antioxidant found in vegetables such as carrot, celery, and broccoli. Researchers from Nagoya University discovered that luteolin could prevent your hair from turning gray by preserving endothelin expression and melanocyte activity.
Hair graying is a common sign of aging as the pigment cells in hair follicles gradually die as people turn older. However, premature graying of hair can also be triggered due to reasons like stress, smoking, UV radiation, certain drugs or genetic factors.
The study led by Masashi Kato and Takumi Kagawa, and published in the journal Antioxidants successfully proved the efficacy of an antioxidant slowing this process. As part of this study the researchers aimed to find the effect of three antioxidants — luteolin, hesperetin, and diosmetin to evaluate their anti-graying effects in mice that were bred to go gray like humans.
It was found that mice that received luteolin retained their black fur while the fur of those who didn’t get the specific antioxidant turned gray, irrespective of whether luteolin was given externally or internally.
“This result was surprising,” Professor Kato said. “While we expected that antioxidants may also have anti-graying effects, only luteolin, not hesperetin or diosmetin, demonstrated significant effects. This finding suggests that luteolin may have a unique medicinal effect that prevents graying.”

What is Luteolin? Understanding its anti-graying effects

Luteolin is a yellow flavonoid found in plants, fruits, and vegetables. It has many potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties.
Luteolin may have anti-graying effect due to its influence on endothelins, proteins that play a crucial role in cellular communication. In the study, luteolin treatments maintained the expression of endothelins and their receptor. This maintenance helps sustain healthy signaling pathways, preventing the reduction in melanocyte activity that usually leads to graying.

“Interestingly, luteolin had limited effects on hair cycles, indicating that its primary impact is on pigmentation rather than hair growth or shedding,” Professor Kato said. “This targeted action makes luteolin a particularly intriguing candidate for addressing age-related hair graying.”
Vegetables such as celery, carrots, broccoli, green peppers, and parsley are excellent sources of luteolin. Fruits like apples, oranges, and berries also contain significant amounts. Additionally, herbs like thyme, rosemary, and chamomile, along with certain teas, provide a natural boost of this compound. Regularly incorporating luteolin-rich foods into your diet may support healthy aging, reduce inflammation, and help maintain hair pigmentation.