Abstract: Objective: To investigate the treating effect and action principle of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on androgenetic alopecia (AGA) mice. Methods: Forty male C57BL/6 mice were selected and divided into 4 groups, blank group, model group, positive group and PNS group, 10 mice in each group. The androgen alopecia animal models successfully established after treated with testosterone propionate. The mice in the positive group, PNS group were treated with corresponding drugs and the mice in the model and blank group were treated with distilled water solution. The amount of hair follicles, terminal hair follicles, and vellus hair follicles in the hair loss area was assessed. The concentrations of testosterone and VEGF in the serum, VEGF and TGF-β1 in the skin tissue were detected. Results: Compared with the blank group, the amount of hair follicles, terminal hair follicles, and vellus hair follicles were less, the level of VEGF was lower and TGF-β1 was higher in the model group, with significant differences (Ps<0.01). Compared with the model group, the amount of hair follicles, terminal hair follicles, and vellus hair follicles were more, the level of VEGF was higher and TGF-β1 was lower in the PNS group, with significant differences (Ps<0.05). Conclusion: PNS can improve the C57BL/6AGA mouse AGA, which may be related to the level of VEGF increase  and TGF-β1 decrease.

Key words: androgenetic alopecia, vascular endothelial growth factor, panax notoginseng saponins, TNF-β1