Pump BioGro™: A Topical For Hair Regrowth? | Scientific Analysis

Article Summary

Pump BioGro™ is a topical product marketed by Pump Haircare. Its makers claim that Pump BioGro™ is clinically proven to reduce hair shedding and promote hair growth by inhibiting fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) – a growth factor that Pump Haircare suggests might negatively impact hair cycling. During our investigation, we could not find strong data supporting a relationship between FGF5 and hair loss disorders. But what about the claims that Pump BioGro™ is clinically proven to promote hair growth? In this product review, we analyze the published data, assess the potential effects of Pump BioGro™ on human hair follicles, & make recommendations to the company for further research.

Full Article

Pump Haircare is a company that sells a wide array of haircare and skincare products, aimed at promoting healthy skin and hair, as well as hair growth. One of Pump Haircare’s products, called BioGro™, is marketed towards reducing ‘hair fall’ or shedding, and simultaneously promoting hair growth.

The company claims that this product is scientifically and clinically proven to target the root cause of hair loss.^[1]Pump Haircare, (no date), Pump BioGro. Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 14 April 2023 Pump haircare (or ‘Pump’, for short) claims that a particular growth factor called fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) builds up in the scalp, and that this build up is due to many factors (such as age, stress, and increased dihydrotestosterone) and that this build-up is what actually causes hair to fall out.^[2]Pump, (no date), BioGro Product FAQ. Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 14 April 2023

In this article we will take a look at the role of FGF5 in hair cycling and loss as well as evaluate whether or not  this product has been tested to an acceptable standard.

Key Takeaways

• Branding. Pump Biogro™ is a topical serum (you apply it to your scalp). Pump Haircare claims that their product is clinically and scientifically proven to reduce hair shedding while promoting hair growth.^[3]Pump, (no date), BioGro Product FAQ. Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 14 April 2023 Judging from the before-and-after photos on Pump’s website, the BioGro™ serum appears to be targeted towards women, however, the company doesn’t specifically mention who they are targeting.
• Unique Selling Point. Pump Haircare claims that its product is unique due to the product’s apparent ability to inhibit FGF5, a protein that they say accumulates in the hair follicle in the majority of hair loss disorders, which then stops hair from growing back.
• Clinical Support. Pump Haircare claims that trials have shown that treatment with BioGro™ leads to an 82% reduction in hair fall. However, we couldn’t find the source of this data, and when we asked Pump about it, they simply referred us back to the original webpage, which did not provide any further answers.
• Concerns.
  • This product does not appear to have any clinical data associated with it, which is concerning as Pump, on the contrary, clearly says that it does, and they mention specific statistics (like the 82% reduction in hair fall) that we cannot verify.
  • While there is evidence to show that FGF5 is involved in hair follicle cycling (the regular changes from ‘growing’ to ‘resting’ hair follicles), there does not appear to be any further research to validate the claims that FGF5 levels are increased in hair loss disorders.
• Evidence Quality.  Pump Haircare BioGro™ serum scored 12/100 for evidence quality, by our metrics.
• Recommendations to Pump Haircare. We recommend that Pump fund large-scale, long-term, pre-registered clinical studies to validate the efficacy and safety of its product. Furthermore, Pump should be careful about making claims with specific statistics on their website without being able to demonstrate where the numbers come from. 

What is Pump Haircare?

Pump Haircare (or Pump) is an Australian-based company that sells a variety of products marketed toward hair and skin health, as well as hair growth. Pump was founded by a hairdresser named Natasha Jay who says that she experienced hair thinning alongside endometriosis, and struggled to find products that worked, which inspired her to work with formulators to make a “…botanical based, organic hair care range that actually works without the nasty ingredients”.^[4]Pump Haircare, (no date), Tash’s Story. Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/pages/about-tash (Accessed: 14 April 2023 Currently, Pump sells over 50 products that are made with their own proprietary formulas.

One of the Pump Haircare products available on their website is called BioGro™ (Figure 1). Pump claim that this product leads to a reduction in hair loss, helps with hair thinning, and leads to “…thicker, healthier, longer hair”.^[5]Pump, (no date), BioGro™ Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 14 April 2023

Pump BioGro™ contains three active ingredients:

• Sanguisorba Officinalis 2.5 mg/ml
• Rosa multiflora 1.67 mg/ml
• Swertia chirata 3.6 mg/ml 

We will take a closer look at these ingredients in the sections below.

Who is their Target Customer?

Pump Haircare does not mention whom their product is targeted towards, however, the only before-and-after photos for this product are of women.

What Pump Haircare Products Are Offered?

Pump Haircare has a catalog of over 50 products targeting hair thickness, skin and hair health, and hair growth. In their hair growth range, Pump Haircare offers shampoo and conditioners, hair growth vitamins, oils, derma rollers, and the BioGro™ serum which is the only product in their range that contains the 3 active ingredients mentioned above.

How does Pump Haircare Claim its BioGro™ Serum is Unique?

According to Pump Haircare, BioGro™ is unique because it targets the hair follicle cycle. The company claims that a protein called FGF5 is the cause of most hair loss cases, as it stops the hair from growing by attaching to the hair follicle. The Pump BioGro™ contains two ingredients that they claim block FGF5. We will go into more detail below about what FGF5FGF5 is, if and how it is relevant to the hair cycle, and whether these ingredients are actually effective at promoting hair growth.

What is their Pricing?

A 1.7 FL Oz pump bottle of the BioGro™ serum will cost you $33.74 USD including shipping. It is recommended by Pump Haircare that you use BioGro™ for a minimum of 16 weeks or 120 days to see significant results, and you should use it twice a day. Unfortunately, the company does not state how long one bottle should last, but as you will be using it twice a day, you can expect to have to pay out a number of times to get enough product to see you through the recommended time period.

In our opinion, the pricing isn’t that expensive, considering the price points of other products sold as  hair growth serums. However, whether customers think the product is worth the money or not surely depends on whether the product actually works. So let’s have a look at the evidence. Let us examine what FGF5 is, and whether there is any evidence to suggest that this product can actually alleviate hair loss by regulating FGF5 levels.

Product Science: Deep Dive

Before we jump into whether there is any science behind the active ingredients in BioGro™, let’s look into the role of FGF5 in the hair follicle.

FGF5

FGF5 is a protein that is a member of the FGF family of proteins, that are involved in the regulation of cell growth and survival as well as embryonic development, wound healing, and tumor growth and invasion.^[7]NIH, (2023), FGF5 fibroblast growth factor 5. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2250 (Accessed: 14 April 2023

In the context of the hair follicle biology, FGF5 does appear to play a role. In studies of mice with mutations in the FGF5 gene, it was observed that mutant mice had longer hair (or fur), which was attributed to extension of the growing (anagen) phase of the hair cycle. ^[8]Hebert, J.M., Rosenquist, T., Gotz, J., Martin, G.R. (1994), FGF5 as a Regulator of the Hair Growth Cycle: Evidence from Targeted and Spontaneous Mutations. Cell. 78(1017-1025) Available at: … Continue reading Therefore, it was therefore that FGF5 normally functions to negatively regulate hair growth.

Other studies have found that there are two isoforms of FGF5 – FGF5S and FGF5 – located in different areas of the hair follicle, and which are differentially upregulated or downregulated at different stages of the hair cycle. FGF5S appears to be associated with growth and is upregulated during the anagen stage of the hair cycle, and is then downregulated during the transitional (catagen) stage of the hair cycle. FGF5 however is upregulated during the catagen and resting (telogen) phases of the hair cycle.^[10]Suzuki, S., Kato, T., Takimoto, H., Masui, S., Oshima, H., Ozawa, K., Suzuki, S., Imamura, T. (1997). Localization of rat FGF5 protein in skin macrophage-like cells and FGF5S protein in hair … Continue reading 

Let’s revisit the science behind the hair cycle. Hair follicles can be in one of three stages: the anagen (growing) phase; the telogen (or resting phase); or catagen (or regression stage, where an anagen hair transitions into a telogen hair).

In terms of mechanisms, for FGF5, this seems to exert its effect by binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, which is expressed within the dermal papilla (located within the bulb at the base of the hair follicle), therefore stimulating the transition from the growing to the transition stage of the hair follicle cycle.^[11]Ota, Y., Saitoh, Y., Suzuki, S., Ozawa, K., Kawano, M., Imamura, T. (2002). Fibroblast growth factor 5 inhibits hair growth by blocking dermal papilla cell activation. Biochemical and Biophysical … Continue reading

Also, similar to the mutant mice described above, humans with mutations in the FGF5 gene exhibit a specific condition called familial trichomegaly (Figure 3), a characteristic feature of which is extremely long eyelashes. These patients also exhibit a significant increase in hairs that are in the anagen stage.  Therefore, it was considered that inhibiting FGF5 might be beneficial for people with hair loss disorders.^[12]Higgens, C.A., Petukhova, L., Harel, S., Ho, Y.Y., Drill, E., Shapiro, L., Wajid, M., Christiano, A.M. (2014). FGF5 is a crucial regulator of hair length in humans. Proceedings of the National … Continue reading 

Furthermore, in a genome-wide association study, FGF5 has been found to be a “risk” gene for male pattern baldness, indicating that it may play a role in the pathogenesis, and may be a promising target for the development of therapeutic options. Presumably, given what we have learned so far about FGF5, only gain-of-function mutations in FGF5 would promote hair loss.^[13]Heillmann-Heimbach, S., Herold, C., Hochfeld, L.M., Hillmer, A.M., Nyholt, D.R., Hecker, J., Javed, A., Chew, E.G.Y., Pechlivanis, S., Drichel, D., Heng, X.T., del Rosaria, R.C.H., Fier, H.L., Paus, … Continue reading

So let’s recap. We know that: FGF5 can induce the transition from growing to non-growing hair cycle stages; that knocking down the gene that codes for FGF5 can induce abnormal hair growth; and that studies have shown that the FGF5 gene is considered a risk gene for male pattern baldness. But Pump Haircare says that when people are “…stressed, have hormonal changes, inadequate nutrients, are responsive to dihydrotestosterone, or have a genetic predisposition, too much FGF5 can build up in the scalp resulting in excess hair fall, slow growth, poor quality hair, and hair loss”.^[15]Pump Haircare, (no date), What is FGF5? Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 15 April 2023

So, is there any scientific evidence for there being a pathological build up of FGF5? Well, we have not been able to find any research papers specifically associating FGF5 accumulation with hair loss, much less that FGF5 really ‘accumulates’ in the skin. Furthermore, FGF5 is not the only protein involved in the induction of the catagen stage; with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) amongst other proteins known to induce and regulate the catagen stage of the hair cycle, indicating that it is a multifactorial process involving multiple different proteins and pathways.^[16]Schneider, M.R., Schmidt-Ullrich, R., Paus, R. (2009). The hair follicle as a dynamic mini organ. Current Biology. 19, 132-142. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.12.005

So let’s now have a look at whether there is any evidence showing that the ingredients of Pump BioGro™ can regulate FGF5, as is claimed. More importantly, do these ingredients have an effect on human hair growth?

What is the Efficacy of Pump BioGrow™ Serum?

Pump BioGro™ serum has three active ingredients:

• Sanguisorba Officinalis
• Rosa multiflora
• Swertia chirata

Pump says that Sanguisorba Officinalis and Rosa multiflora are both FGF5 inhibitors, so let’s have a look at the science behind these ingredients.

In one study, researchers found that Sanguisorba officinalis (SO) was found to have an inhibitory effect on FGF5 activity.^[17]Maeda, T., Yamamoto, T., Ishikawa, Y., Ito, T., Arase, S. (2007), Sanguisorba officinalis root extract has FGF5 inhibitory activity and reduces hair loss by causing prolongation of the anagen period. … Continue reading The researchers also reported that topical application in mice, did not stimulate new hair growth, however, it did reduce the number of non-growing hair and increased hair length. In a small clinical study (of 39 people) in the same paper, topical SO extract was found to reduce the number of hairs shed (Figure 4), decrease the number of non-growing (telogen) hairs (Figure 5) and increase the number of growing (anagen) (Figure 6) hairs compared to a control treatment.

It is worth noting that so far we have not been able to ascertain an original copy of this paper, and we have therefore been working with the information uploaded to Semantics Scholar (hence, why some of the figures appear truncated). We have asked the original authors for a copy of their work via ResearchGate, and we are awaiting a reply.^[18]Maeda, T., Yamamoto, T., Ishikawa, Y., Ito, T., Arase, S. (2007), Sanguisorba officinalis root extract has FGF5 inhibitory activity and reduces hair loss by causing prolongation of the anagen period. … Continue reading

Interestingly in all of these graphs, the researchers have decided to compare the results of treatment to the baseline instead of to the control group. This, we suspect, is because there is actually no statistically significant difference between the control and treated groups at each time point, which is what we would really want to know. Furthermore, looking at the error bars, there seems to be a high level of variation in each of the groups, which is not uncommon when doing research on human samples – as everyone is different – however because of the small sample size (39 people in total), it means that we cannot determine if there is any actual effect on human hair growth.

The researchers also conducted a questionnaire in which they asked the participants to rate how effective they thought each treatment was. For the Sanguisorba officinalis-treated group, 4.3% of participants reported that they thought the treatment was “very effective”, 17.4% thought it was “effective”, 52.2% thought it was “somewhat effective” and 26.1% thought it was “ineffective” (Figure 7). For the control group, 25% thought it was “somewhat effective” and 75% thought it was “ineffective”. So, at least the participants thought that there was some kind of positive effect on hair growth. 

In a further study however, SO extract was not as effective at inhibiting FGF5 as eucalyptus oil, or other compounds extracted from fruits and vegetables known as monoterpenoids (Figure 8).^[23]Burg, D., Yamamoto, M., Namekata, M., Haklani, J., Koike, K., Halasz, M. (2017). Promotion of anagen, increased hair density, and reduction of hair fall in a clinical setting following identification … Continue reading In this study, the researchers first assayed the efficacy of several compounds, including SO, at inhibiting the ability of FGF5 to stimulate cell growth in cells they had engineered to express the FGF5 receptor (Figure 8).

We can see that of all the tested compounds, SO was the least effective at inhibiting the effect of FGF5. Next, the researchers wanted to use a more relevant model to hair follicles, and therefore tested the same compounds in cultured dermal papilla cells in a dish. The assay they used to assess FGF5 activity here was based on a technique that uses an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase.

Alkaline phosphatase is a marker of the growing phase in dermal papilla cells. It is expressed at its  highest level in the early phase of anagen, and gradually decreases into the middle or late phase.^[25]Iida, M., Ihara, S., Matsuzaki, T. (2007). Hair cycle-dependent changes of alkaline phosphatase activity in the mesenchyme and epithelium in mouse vibrissal follicles. 49(3), 185-195. Available at: … Continue reading As the FGF5 protein causes suppression of alkaline phosphatase in dermal papilla cells, it was decided to use alkaline phosphatase  activity as a marker of anagen recovery. Cells were treated with either SO extract or other extracts above, and the subsequent effects on alkaline phosphatase levels were measured. So, for example, if dermal papilla cells were treated with the SO extract, and alkaline phosphatase activity increased, then we might infer  that it inhibits FGF5. The change in alkaline phosphatase relative to the control conditions was called ‘anagen recovery factor’ – since high levels of the enzyme are associated with anagen, as mentioned.

However, SO extract did not perform as well as other extracts when it comes to anagen recovery, with eucalyptus oil and MTP3 (another compound they tested)  both showing a higher anagen recovery rate (Figure 9). The anagen recovery rate is simply the level of alkaline phosphatase activity which the researchers use as a measure for anagen induction.

As for the other active ingredients included in Pump BioGro™ , we could not find any published evidence for Rosa multiflora as an inhibitor of FGF5, unfortunately. It would be interesting to know what information led Pump Haircare to claim that it was a potent FGF5 inhibitor. Swertia chirata is not an FGF5 blocker (nor is it claimed to be by Pump) so what does the company say about it?

Pump states that Swertia chirata “…has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties”.^[27]Pump Haircare, (no date), Pump BioGro. Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 14 April 2023 The company also says that Swertia chirata maintains the health of the hair and scalp as well as locking in moisture in hair fibers. Whilst there is evidence to show that this ingredient is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory there do not appear to be any studies that we could find to suggest that it is beneficial for hair growth.^[28]Kumar, V., van Staden, J. (2015). A review of Swertia chirayita (Gentianaceae) as a traditional medicinal plant. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 6. 308. Available at: … Continue reading

So far, the available data to support including these  ingredients in BioGro™are not convincing. The most important question to answer is whether there is any actual clinical data for this product as a whole.

Clinical Data

On the Pump Haircare website, it says that BioGro™ is scientifically and clinically proven, and that trials resulted in an 82% reduction in hair fall. Here’s an example of how they use these claims in advertising and promotional materials:

However, we could not find any trial or study associated with this product. So, we sent Pump Haircare a message asking about it.

The only reply that we received was that we could “…find a lot of information on the product page if we scrolled down” (Figure 10). But we have looked, and cannot find where this information actually originates.

Furthermore, while there are one or two before-and-after images that show the scalp hair regrowth of the people using the product (Figure 11), the vast majority of photos are of total hair length (Figure 12) – this is generally of low priority to people with hair loss, not to mention something that is very difficult to derive meaningful data from (how long would the hair have grown without treatment?). More importantly, we want to know if the product will lead to new hair growth and not whether it will cause our existing hair to grow longer.

Additionally, while the photo above (Figure 11) actually looks like there was some regrowth, there was no information provided about the type of hair loss the person was suffering from, how long they were using the product, and whether they were using the product in combination with any other treatments. Moreover, as is always the case with before-and-after photos, differences in lighting, camera angle, and hair styling can cause profound changes that can be confused with effects of the product.

Due to the lack of information about this product’s supposed clinical efficacy, we cannot say for sure if this product actually works to regrow hair. This brings us to our next question, is there any safety information for the BioGro™ serum?

Is Pump BioGro Serum Safe?

On its website, Pump Haircare state that there have not been any serious side effects recorded after using BioGro™, however they do not mention what they think of as a serious side effect. The company however did say that those who suffer from a skin condition – like eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin – might experience irritation and/or a dry, itchy scalp.^[31]Pump, (no date), BioGro Product FAQ. Available at: https://pumphaircare.com/products/biogro-anti-hairfall-serum (Accessed: 14 April 2023

Because there is no clinical data associated with the product as a whole, we cannot say for sure whether it is safe to use or not. 

Should I Use It?

You may want to experiment with this product if:

• You want to potentially increase your hair length
• You are happy to use a product that has no clinical studies associated with it
• You are ok using a product that has no safety data associated with it
• You are ok using a product that may work differently in men and women

At this point, however, we cannot currently recommend this product due to the lack of research surrounding it.

Recommendations to the Company

We would recommend that Pump Haircare fund long-term, large-scale, independent pre-registered trials of its serum. Furthermore, Pump Haircare should aim to make transparency a priority and make it easy for people to find their studies – or make the studies available at all – especially if they say specific statistics on their website. As it stands, we do not know where the “82% reduction in hair fall” statistic comes from, so we cannot verify this claim. 

Final Thoughts

Whilst there is evidence to show that FGF5 is involved in the hair follicle cycle, more research needs to be completed about its role in hair loss disorders, and whether targeting its activity leads to any actual effects on hair follicle growth. If you are comfortable buying a product that has very little efficacy and basically no safety data associated with it, or want to potentially increase your hair length, then you may want to consider experimenting with this product. At this point, however, there needs to be more data that the ingredients contained within the product, and the product as a whole actually works.