Encyclopedia · supplement
Luteolin
A plant flavonoid sold as a supplement slowed hair graying in a mouse model while two similar antioxidants did not, and there is no human data at all.
What it is
A flavone found in celery, parsley and thyme, sold in oral and topical supplements.
How it works
In mice prone to graying, luteolin reduced aged (senescent) skin stem cells in the follicle bulge and preserved endothelin signalling to the pigment stem cells. Two related compounds, hesperetin and diosmetin, lacked the topical effect, so "any antioxidant" does not suffice. Iida 2024
What the studies show
- Topical and oral luteolin eased graying in a mouse model. Co-authors were employed by or held shares in a hair-dye company, and a university patent exists on the model. Mice only. Iida 2024
- In 25 mice, topical simvastatin plus luteolin increased hair growth, count and follicle diameter compared with an ethanol control, similar to a minoxidil group. A tiny mouse study. Al-Mudhafar 2025
How it's used in studies
Mouse topical and dietary doses only. There is no human regimen.
Side effects and safety
Generally a dietary compound, but supplement purity and dose are unregulated.
Bottom line
Animal-only and partly industry-affiliated. A good example of why mouse graying data do not equal human results (see gray hair).
Fun facts
- In the mouse study, luteolin worked against graying while two chemically similar antioxidants did not. Iida 2024
Studies 2
Iida M et al. Anti-graying effects of external and internal treatments with luteolin on hair in model mice. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024
Result: Topical and oral luteolin mitigated graying; two similar antioxidants lacked the topical effect; hair-dye company co-authors.
Read the study ↗Al-Mudhafar AM et al. Effect of topically applied simvastatin plus luteolin on hair in male mice. Wiad Lek. 2025
Result: Luteolin and simvastatin each increased hair growth, count and follicle diameter versus ethanol control, similar to a minoxidil group.
Read the study ↗Related
- Gray hair and premature grayingGraying is mostly genetic, but single-hair mapping shows some gray hairs can regain colour, and the famous stress-causes-gray mechanism has only been proven in mice.
- Catalase and pseudocatalaseThe idea that hair grays because follicles accumulate hydrogen peroxide has a real basis in vitiligo skin, but catalase supplements for gray hair have no human trial evidence.
- Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)A 1950 physician report described gray hair darkening on high-dose PABA, and the idea has survived 75 years on weak evidence.