Minoxidil

Minoxidil(U 10858) is an antihypertensive vasodilator medication. Target: potassium channel Minoxidil, a potent antihypertensive agent, induces generalized hypertrichosis when administered systemically, or localized hair regrowth when applied topically to sites of severe alopecia areata. The pharmacologic mechanisms by which minoxidil stimulates hair growth are unknown. This study was designed to examine whether minoxidil has direct effects on neonatal murine epidermal cells in culture.
Minoxidil is a pyrimidine N-oxide that is pyrimidine-2,4-diamine 3-oxide substituted by a piperidin-1-yl group at position 6. It has a role as a vasodilator agent and an antihypertensive agent. It is a pyrimidine N-oxide, a member of piperidines and an aminopyrimidine.|A potent direct-acting peripheral vasodilator (vasodilator agents) that reduces peripheral resistance and produces a fall in blood pressure.|Minoxidil is an Arteriolar Vasodilator. The physiologic effect of minoxidil is by means of Arteriolar Vasodilation.|Minoxidil is an antihypertensive agent that is used largely for patients with severe and refractory hypertension not responding to conventional therapies. Minoxidil is also used topically to treat male pattern baldness. Despite its use for many years, minoxidil has not been convincingly linked to cases of clinically apparent liver injury.|Minoxidil is an orally administered vasodilator with hair growth stimulatory and antihypertensive effects. Minoxidil is converted into its active metabolite minoxidil sulphate by sulphotransferase enzymes. Minoxidil sulphate exerts its antihypertensive effect by opening of plasma membrane adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels), thereby directly and rapidly relaxing arteriolar smooth muscle and subsequent reduction of elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure by decreasing peripheral vascular resistance. This agent's hair growth stimulatory effect may be mediated through its vasodilatory activity, thereby increasing cutaneous blood flow, or due to its direct stimulatory effect on hair follicle cells and forcing them from their resting phase into their active growth phase.|A potent direct-acting peripheral vasodilator (VASODILATOR AGENTS) that reduces peripheral resistance and produces a fall in BLOOD PRESSURE. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p371)