Parenteral Human Placental Extract and Hydrolysate Therapy: Clinical Applications, Dosing Regimens, Healthy Aging, And Aesthetic Uses — A Scoping Review
Abstract:
Background: Human placental extracts and hydrolysates have been administered parenterally for several decades, particularly in Japan, South Korea, India, and China, for indications ranging from liver disease and menopausal symptoms to fatigue, musculoskeletal disorders, oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), healthy aging, and aesthetic dermatology. However, clinical evidence remains geographically dispersed, and formulations, routes, doses, treatment schedules, and follow-up periods are highly heterogeneous. Objective: To map the human clinical evidence for parenterally administered placental preparations, focusing on clinical indications, formulations, routes of administration, dosing regimens, treatment duration, follow-up, efficacy, and safety, with particular attention to healthy aging and aesthetic applications. Methods: A scoping review of international and regional literature was conducted from database inception through August 2026, without restrictions on publication language or date. Eligible studies evaluated human placental extract (HPE), human placental hydrolysate (HPH), placental polypeptides, or Hominis placenta administered intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally, intralesionally, submucosally, by pharmacopuncture, or by targeted musculoskeletal injection. Exclusively oral and topical preparations, cellular therapies, and placental membrane products were excluded from the primary synthesis. Data on preparation, dose, injection volume, frequency, cumulative exposure, treatment duration, follow-up, efficacy, and adverse events were extracted and synthesized descriptively. Results: Clinical studies were concentrated in South Korea, Japan, India, and China. In older adults, eight weeks of subcutaneous HPE significantly improved the between-group change in physical function compared with placebo (P=0.036). In a randomized trial involving 108 women with menopausal symptoms, the Kupperman Menopausal Index decreased by 12.30±10.44 points with HPE versus 7.15±9.11 with placebo (P=0.012). Another trial involving 84 women demonstrated improvement in menopausal symptoms (P=0.033) and increased estradiol concentrations (P=0.031) compared with placebo. A placebo-controlled trial involving 78 participants with chronic fatigue reported significant improvements in fatigue measures, particularly in the chronic fatigue syndrome subgroup. In alcoholic or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a randomized comparative trial found that a reduction in alanine aminotransferase of at least 20% occurred in 62.9% of HPE-treated participants versus 48.8% of comparator-treated participants in the per-protocol population (P=0.0772), without demonstrating superiority. A smaller NASH pilot study found significant reductions in aminotransferases at week 8, but not at weeks 12 or 24, and no statistically significant improvement in the NAFLD Activity Score (P=0.078). In shoulder impingement syndrome, three weekly ultrasound-guided injections of 4 mL HPH significantly improved pain, disability, and health-related quality of life compared with placebo (all P<0.001). In OSMF, intralesional placental extract improved mouth opening and burning symptoms, although combination therapies or active comparators produced greater improvements in some studies. A randomized Chinese study involving 156 adults with sensitive skin demonstrated improvement in facial hemoglobin content and global aesthetic assessment after three intradermal mesotherapy sessions. However, a placebo-controlled pharmacopuncture trial did not demonstrate significant superiority for its primary menopausal hot-flash endpoint. No clinical study demonstrated increased human lifespan or reduced mortality. Conclusion: Parenteral human placental preparations have demonstrated clinical effects in selected indications, particularly menopausal symptoms, physical function, chronic fatigue, OSMF, and musculoskeletal disorders. Emerging evidence also concerns aesthetic dermatology. Nevertheless, marked heterogeneity in preparations, doses, routes, comparators, and follow-up limits generalization. Current evidence supports further investigation of healthspan-related outcomes but does not establish placental preparations as longevity therapy.
KeyWords:
Human placental extract; placental hydrolysate; Laennec; Melsmon; Placentrex; Hominis placenta; injection; healthy aging; menopause; fatigue; mesotherapy.
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