Findings from the Suncheon Biohealth Care Research Center have been published in the international academic journal Cosmetics.
The Suncheon Biohealth Care Research Center, a publicly funded research institute under Suncheon city, has developed and commercialized a functional shampoo designed to prevent hair loss and promote scalp health by applying bioconversion technology to kelp.
The center, located in Pungdeok-dong, partnered with Badapumae Co., a local beauty and marine biotech startup, to launch a project on developing hair-care cosmetics ingredients and products using fermented kelp culture.
Research confirmed that fermenting kelp significantly enhances its active compounds' ability to improve the scalp environment and activate hair follicle cells.
The findings were published in the international journal Cosmetics under the title "Enhanced Anti-Hair Loss Activity of Kelp Through Yeast Fermentation," earning recognition for the technology.
Drawing on the patented technology and human-application test results from the research, Badapumae launched a scalp-care shampoo now sold under the brand name "Love Your Scalp Shampoo" through the Mamaseaweed online shopping mall as a hair-loss symptom relief product.
A standout feature of the product is its kelp extract concentration of 100,000 ppm — 100 times higher than that of kelp-based shampoos currently on the market — a level the company says is clinically associated with relieving hair-loss symptoms.
Other key ingredients include ecklonia cava extract, sea mustard extract, centella asiatica, green tea, rosemary leaf extract and licorice extract.
The shampoo is formulated without synthetic chemicals, including parabens, benzophenone, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colorants and dimethicone, positioning it as a natural-ingredient product.
Badapumae has filed a patent for what it describes as the country's only hair-loss prevention and treatment technology using fermented kelp culture as an active ingredient, and the product has passed low-irritation clinical skin tests.
The project is being cited as a model case of how locally sourced biological resources, combined with bioconversion technology, can be successfully commercialized into products aligned with current beauty industry trends.
"We will continue working to build Suncheon's green biotech industry ecosystem — one that connects research and development, academic validation and commercial product launches," an official from the city's new growth industries division said.
parkds@heraldcorp.com
