Redensyl (DHQG + EGCG2 complex)
Redensyl is a commercial leave-on cosmetic active developed by Givaudan Active Beauty (originally Induchem) and marketed for hair density and anti-hair-loss serums. It is produced by a patented solvent-free "green chemistry" glycosylation that creates stable, water-soluble derivatives of two plant polyphenols: dihydroquercetin from larch wood (becoming DHQG) and EGCG from green tea (becoming EGCG2). The full cosmetic complex (INCI: Glycerin, Aqua, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Zinc Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract) is typically used at around 3% in finished products. It is a cosmetic ingredient, not a peptide drug, and is intended to be applied to the scalp rather than ingested or injected.
Education only. This page summarises published research on a cosmetic or dietary ingredient. It is not medical advice and makes no treatment claims; for a finished product, follow its label.
- Also known as
- Redensyl, Redensyl 3%, DHQG/EGCG2 complex, dihydroquercetin-glucoside + epigallocatechin-gallate-glucoside complex, Tetragain (Soulflower study tradename)
- Class
- Topical biotech cosmetic hair-growth active (not a true peptide): a four-component complex of two glycosylated polyphenols — DHQG (dihydroquercetin-glucoside) and EGCG2 (epigallocatechin-gallate-glucoside) — plus glycine (an amino acid building block of keratin) and zinc. Often grouped with cosmetic "hair peptide/active" serum ingredients.
How does Redensyl work?
In manufacturer in-vitro work, Redensyl is described as targeting hair-follicle bulge stem cells (outer root sheath cells) and dermal papilla fibroblasts — two cell populations central to starting and sustaining the anagen (growth) phase. The components are reported to encourage division of these stem cells while preserving their identity (cytokeratin-15), protect them from programmed cell death (BCL2), push cells toward the growth phase via β-catenin/Wnt signaling, boost dermal papilla fibroblast metabolism, and lower scalp inflammation (reduced interleukin-8). Glycine supplies an amino acid used in hair keratin and zinc supports keratin formation. The net intended effect is to shift follicles from shedding back toward active growth, acting locally at the follicle rather than through vasodilation or hormone pathways.
What has Redensyl been studied for?
- Androgenetic alopecia / pattern hair loss (density and growth support)
- Reducing hair shedding / increasing anagen-to-telogen ratio
- General hair thinning and preventive hair-care
- Eyebrow and eyelash density (cosmetic claims)
- Adjunct or alternative to topical minoxidil in people concerned about minoxidil side effects
What does the evidence show?
Evidence is limited and largely manufacturer-generated. The most-cited data is a Givaudan/Induchem company study: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 26 men (ages 18-70, grade 3-4 alopecia) applying 3% Redensyl daily for 84 days, reporting roughly +17% total hair, a ~+9% rise in anagen hairs, a ~-17% drop in shedding hairs, and clinical improvement in about 85% of volunteers, with early comparisons claiming scores roughly twice those of minoxidil. These are vendor results, not independent head-to-head FDA-style trials, so the minoxidil comparison should be read with caution. One independent-style publication (Cureus, 2025, PMC11800316) evaluated a Redensyl-containing serum but was an open-label, single-arm study of about 30 women over 120 days, sponsored by the product maker with a company-employed author and no placebo control — its large reported percentage gains are encouraging but at high risk of bias. Overall: small samples, short durations (about 3-4 months), publication/sponsorship bias, no long-term outcome data, and few rigorous independent randomized controlled trials. Real but preliminary.
What is known about the safety of Redensyl?
Generally well tolerated in the available short studies, which reported no adverse effects and described it as non-irritating, non-hormonal, and suitable for men and women. Because it acts locally and is not described as systemically absorbed, systemic side effects are not expected at cosmetic use levels. Practical cautions: the formula contains sodium metabisulfite (a sulfite preservative) and plant-derived (larch, green tea) extracts, which can rarely trigger contact irritation or sulfite/botanical sensitivity, so patch testing is reasonable. Long-term safety beyond a few months is not well characterized, and efficacy/safety data in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and children are lacking. Not a substitute for medical evaluation of hair loss, which can have treatable underlying causes.
What is the legal status of Redensyl?
Regulated and sold as a cosmetic ingredient, not as an approved drug. It is legal to use in leave-on cosmetic hair products (subject to standard cosmetic regulations in the US, EU, and elsewhere) and carries no prescription requirement. It is not FDA-approved as a hair-loss drug (unlike topical minoxidil), and bodies such as the UK MHRA have not approved it as a medicine. It is not a controlled substance and is not a banned/WADA-relevant doping agent. Cosmetic claims must avoid drug-level disease-treatment language.
What is the half-life of Redensyl?
Not a clinically meaningful parameter for this ingredient: Redensyl is a topical, locally acting cosmetic complex, not a systemic peptide, and published pharmacokinetic/plasma half-life data are not available. The glycosylation chemistry is designed to make the DHQG and EGCG2 molecules more stable and water-soluble for formulation and follicle uptake rather than for a defined systemic half-life.
Sources
- Givaudan/Induchem Active Beauty — Redensyl: the hair growth galvanizer (manufacturer technical article, Cosmetics Business)
- Givaudan Active Beauty — Redensyl technical/study dossier (manufacturer)
- Cureus (2025) — Clinical Evaluation of the Soulflower Rosemary Redensyl (Tetragain) Hair Growth Serum (PMC11800316)
- INCIDecoder — Redensyl ingredient entry
- SpecialChem Cosmetics — Givaudan Redensyl product/INCI page