Elaeagnus macrophylla Thunb, an evergreen broad-leaf vine, typically grows in coastal areas and is characterized by silvery white and light brown scale hairs on its branches. In traditional Korean medicine, it has been called 'Dongjo (冬棗)' and used as a herbal medicine for ailments such as asthma, cough, phlegm, and diabetes.

Since 2022, the Forest Biomaterials Research Center at NIFoS has been conducting research on 170 species of forest resources to identify bioactive materials effective for hair health. Through this research, Elaeagnus macrophylla Thunb was selected as the plant with the most significant effect in strengthening dermal papilla cells¹⁾.

The research showed that, when treated with Elaeagnus macrophylla Thunb extract at a concentration of 10ug/ml, dermal papilla cell activity increased by 150%, and at 30ug/ml, it increased by 175%, indicating its effectiveness in strengthening hair. Biomarkers related to strengthening dermal papilla cells were also found to increase depending on the treatment concentration.