Provillus For Women - Ingredients

Women's Provillus - Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Minoxidil 5% is the only FDA-approved topical ingredient clinically

proven to regrow hair in men and women. Minoxidil is a "potassium

channel agonist." It contains the chemical structure of Nitric oxide (NO),

a blood vessel dilator, and may be a nitric oxide agonist. This may

explain Minoxidil's ability to stimulate hair growth and treat hair loss.

Since Minoxidil is a nitric oxide related compound it was suspected to

act via activation of Guanylate cyclase, an enzyme involved in

vasodilation, however there are no reports of cGMP or PKG

activation to date.

Azelaic Acid 5% (pronounced az-uh-LAY-ic) is a simple molecule

( HOOC(CH2)7COOH, CAS Number 123-99-9, also known as 1,9-

Nonanedioic acid) that is found in some whole grains and in trace

amounts in human bodies. Although it is an acid, it is an extremely

weak acid - much weaker than vinegar. A research report by

Stamatiadis in 1988 suggested that azelaic acid was a strong type

I 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) inhibitor.

Active Ingredients

Vitamin B6

is a part of B-complex vitamins. It is a water-soluble

vitamin and exists in three major chemical forms: pyridoxine,

pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine. Vitamin B6 has many functions in

the bodyand its deficiency can lead to many disorders including

hair loss. [1] Vitamin B6 helps in optimal nerve function, immunity,

digestion of protein and red blood cell production. Studies have

shown that Vitamin B6 promotes hair growth and prevents hair

loss. [2]

Biotin

, a constituent of Vitamin B complex plays an important role

in metabolism of fat and carbohydrate. The vitamin has various

functions in body including maintenance of healthy skin, hair

and

nails and deficiency state has been shown to cause

hair loss. [3] [4]

Magnesium

, an essential mineral, is indispensable for chemical reactions in the

body including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission,

bone structure and hair growth. [5] [6]

Horsetail

(Equisetum arvense) extract has been shown to have high silica content,

cystine (amino acid) and sulfur. It is a potent antimicrobial and antioxidant. [7] [8] [9]

Para-aminobenzoic Acid

(PABA) is considered as a member of Vitamin B and is

important constituent of folic acid molecule. It is an antioxidant synthesized in the

body. It has an important role in protein metabolism. It is a very potent sunscreen

and has shown to return gray hair to its original color. The molecule is essential

for microbial function in the intestine. [10] [11]

Reference

1. Prendiville, Manfredi. Skin signs of nutritional disorders. Semin Dermatol.

1992 Mar;11(1):88-97.

2. Brzezinska-Wcislo L. Evaluation of vitamin B6 and calcium pantothenate

effectiveness on hair growth from clinical and trichographic aspects for treatment

of diffuse alopecia in women. Wiad Lek. 2001;54(1-2):11-8.

3. Charles et al. Biotin-responsive alopecia and developmental regression. Lancet.

1979 Jul 21;2(8134):118-20.

4. Pawlowski, Kostanecki.Effect of biotin on hair roots and sebum excretion in women

with diffuse alopecia. Pol Med J. 1966;5(2):447-52.

5. Cotton, Porters, Spruit. Magnesium content of the hair in alopecia areata atopica.

Dermatologica. 1976;152(1):60-2.

6. Tataru, Nicoara. Idiopathic diffuse alopecias in young women correlated with

hypomagnesemia. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2004 May;18(3):393-4.

7. Stajner, Popovic, Canadanovic-Brunet, Boza. Free radical scavenging activity of

three Equisetum species from Fruska gora mountain. Fitoterapia. 2006 Dec;77(7-8):

601-4.

8. Radulovic, Stojanovic, Palic. Composition and antimicrobial activity of Equisetum

arvense L. essential oil. Phytother Res. 2006 Jan;20(1):85-8.

9. Oh, Kim, Cho, Kim. Hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging activities of

phenolic petrosins and flavonoids isolated from Equisetum arvense. J

Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec;95(2-3):421-4.

10. Gaby AR. The story of PABA. Nutr Healing 1997;March:3–4, 11.

11. Zarafonetis CJD. Darkening of gray hair during para-amino-benzoic acid therapy.

J Invest Dermatol 1950;15:399–401.