TERT, Stem Cells, and Why Cellular Energy Matters for Hair

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is an enzyme that maintains telomere length — the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. When telomeres become critically short, cells enter senescence and stop dividing. In hair follicles, this manifests as miniaturisation: the follicle produces thinner, shorter, less pigmented hairs until it eventually goes silent.

Baicapil™'s baicalin activates TERT expression to up to 250% of control values, effectively telling dormant stem cells to re-enter the growth cycle. Simultaneously, the soy and wheat sprout extracts boost the cellular energy supply — glycolysis increases by +200% and mitochondrial ATP production rises by +270%. This dual mechanism (TERT activation + energy boost) creates the conditions for rapid telogen-to-anagen transition.

The clinical significance: in the 61-volunteer double-blind study, participants using Baicapil™ saw their telogen hair decrease by −27.2% while placebo users saw telogen actually increase by +6.9%. The energy-dependent nature of hair growth explains why follicles need both the activation signal (TERT) and the metabolic fuel (ATP) to successfully complete the transition.