• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2014

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a plant native to Europe and has been widely used as a carminative and gastric stimulant worldwide. This plant also has been used in cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component and skin conditioning agent. This study investigated the effect of peppermint oil on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. The animals were randomized into 4 groups based on different topical applications: saline (SA), jojoba oil (JO), 3% minoxidil (MXD), and 3% peppermint oil (PEO). The hair growth effects of the 4-week topical applications were evaluated in terms of hair growth, histological analysis, enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), known bio-markers for the enhanced hair growth. Of the 4 experimental groups, PEO group showed the most prominent hair growth effects; a significant increase in dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth. ALP activity and IGF-1 expression also significantly increased in PEO group. Body weight gain and food efficiency were not significantly different between groups. These results suggest that PEO induces a rapid anagen stage and could be used for a practical agent for hair growth without change of body weight gain and food efficiency.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.404-413
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• 2019

Udenafil, which is a $PDE_5$ inhibitor, is used to treat erectile dysfunction. However, it is unclear whether udenafil induces hair growth via the stimulation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). In this study, we investigated whether udenafil stimulates ASCs and whether increased growth factor secretion from ASCs to facilitate hair growth. We found that subcutaneous injection of udenafiltreated ASCs accelerated telogen-to-anagen transition in vivo. We also observed that udenafil induced proliferation, migration and tube formation of ASCs. It also increased the secretion of growth factors from ASCs, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL12B, and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and $NF{\kappa}B$. Furthermore, concomitant upregulation of IL-4 and IL12B mRNA levels was attenuated by ERK inhibitor or $NF{\kappa}B$ knockdown. Application of IL-4 or IL12B enhanced anagen induction in mice and increased hair follicle length in organ culture. The results indicated that udenafil stimulates ASC motility and increases paracrine growth factor, including cytokine signaling. Udenafil-stimulated secretion of cytokine from ASCs may promote hair growth via the ERK and $NF{\kappa}B$ pathways. Therefore, udenafil can be used as an ASC-preconditioning agent for hair growth.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-126
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• 2002

In the course of screening natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Sophora flavescens has the prominent hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of Sophora flavescens extract to the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen phase was induced. In addition, the Sophora flavescens extract revealed to possess potent inhibitory effect on $5{\alpha}$-reductase Ⅰ and Ⅱ activity. The growth of dermal papilla cells and mouse vibrissae hair follicle cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by Sophora flavescens extract treatment. RT-PCR analysis showed that Sophora flavescens extract induced mRNA levels of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ and keratinocyte growth factor in dermal papilla cells, suggesting hair growth promoting effect of Sophora flavescens extract is mediated through inhibition of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ activity and the regulation of growth factors in dermal papilla cells. Furthermore, Sophora flavescens extract also showed anti-bacterial effect on Propionibacterium acnes. These results suggest that Sophora flavescens can be used as a potent treatment agent for helping hair growth stimulation and acne inhibition.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.640-646
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• 2024

Hair growth cycles are mainly regulated by human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and human outer root sheath cells (hORSCs). Protecting hDPCs from excessive oxidative stress and hORSCs from glycogen phosphorylase (PYGL) is crucial to maintaining the hair growth phase, anagen. In this study, we developed a new PYGL inhibitor, hydroxytrimethylpyridinyl methylindolecarboxamide (HTPI) and assessed its potential to prevent hair loss. HTPI reduced oxidative damage, preventing cell death and restored decreased level of anagen marker ALP and its related genes induced by hydrogen peroxide in hDPCs. Moreover, HTPI inhibited glycogen degradation and induced cell survival under glucose starvation in hORSCs. In ex-vivo culture, HTPI significantly enhanced hair growth compared to the control with minoxidil showing comparable results. Overall, these findings suggest that HTPI has significant potential as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hair loss.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.74-94
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• 2016

Objectives : YangHyulEum Gami-Bang(YHEG) is a hair care extracts which is composed of fourteen plant extracts used in oriental medicine. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of YangHyulEum Gami-Bang(YHEG) on the alopecia and hair growth.Methods & Results : The herbal extracts from YangHyulEum Gami-Bang(YHEG) was tested using in vivo and in vitro test models. 1. The YHEG extracts showed effect on the DNA proliferation of the hair dermal papilla cells measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. 2. YHEG showed promoting on the expression of growth factors such as IGF-1, KGF-1 and inhibiting on the expression of inhibitory hair growth factor such as TGF-β1, BMP-2 estimated by qPCR. 3. The YHEG extracts showed effect on the activation of β-catenin in the dermal papilla cells. 4. YHEG showed inhibitory effects of NO synthesis at 0.2% concentrations. 5. YHEG showed effects in the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS gene in the LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. 6. The hair growth index of the YHEG extracts ranked at over 2 when compared to control group which was ranked at 0. 7. The hair follicle number, length and size of the experimental group were remarkably higher than the control group in the histological observation.Conclusions : These results suggest that YangHyulEum Gami-Bang(YHEG) has hair growth promoting activity and it can be used as a potent treatment agent for preventing hair loss and stimulating hair growth for treatment of alopecia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2015

Objectives : The experiment was performed to investigate promotive effects of haeae-tang (HET) extract, a traditional Korean medicinal recipe, on hair growth, protein and gene expression in hair-removed C57BL/6. Methods : In experiment, animals were divided into 3 groups including normal (vehicle), HET ethanol extract and 5% minoxidil-treated groups (Minoxidil, positive control). The vehicle or testing samples were daily treated with 0.2ml per on hair-shaved dorsal skin of C57BL/6mice for 15 days. Effects of testing samples on hair growth was monitored through phototrichogram analysis by folliscope on the initial, $5^{th}$, $10^{th}$, $15^{th}$ day, respectively. Also, gene and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), relevant to hair growth, were examined. Results : Hair density and hair thickness of Minoxidil treated-group was significantly increased compared to that of vehicle application on the $15^{th}$day, respectively. Dorsal hair density of HET treated-group was significantly increased compared to that of vehicle application on the $15^{th}$day. In addition, the Minoxidil group significantly increased the expression of cutaneous IGF-1 protein and mRNA compared to that of the vehicle-applied group on the $15^{th}$ day. And HET-treated group significantly increased the expression of dorsal VEGF protein compared to that of the vehicle-applied group on the $15^{th}$ day. Conclusions : These results suggest that this Korean medicinal recipe, HET has promoting activity on hair growth in an Alopecia animal model thus it can be used as a material of agent or products for improvement or prevention of alopecia.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.219-224
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• 2018

We have studied anemarrhena asphodeloides, a hair growth promoter as an alternative medicine agent to compensate for the disadvantages of minoxidil, which has excellent hair growth promoting effect on follicular epithelial cells. anemarrhena asphodeloide, an Rhizome plant of aemarrhena asphodeloide family, is a traditional medicinal plant used in Korea as an antipyretic, antidiabetic, antidepressant, antiinflammatory. We applied and observed anemarrhena asphodeloides ethanol extracts to the back of mice, and there was no significant difference in body weight and food intake among all groups of mice. The ethanol extract of anemarrhena asphodeloides showed vigorous hair growth promoting effect without changing the serum composition and thus it is considered to be useful as a hair growth promoter in the future.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2004

The hair growth effect of the oriental medicine extract which is composed of Polygoni multiflori Radix, Angelica gigantis Radix and Lycii Fructus was studied biochemically and histologically. The study was conducted dividelly into three groups, control, propecia and oriental medicine extract and three groups were compared each other in skin androgen, testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), content biochemically and the number of hair follicular unit and hair follicle histologically. The oriental medicine extract and propecia decreased skin DHT conetent and increased skin total (T+DHT) content compared with control. In transverse sections of skin specimens the oriental medicine extract and propecia increased total counts of follicular units and follicles compared with control. On the basis of the result, the oriental medicine extract has same hair growth effect as propecia and it is suggested that the oriental medicne extract is capable of a therapeutic agent of alopecia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.561-570
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• 2004

To screen the effective materials for hair loss treatment, the Gamissanghwa-tang extracts were tested. As a result we found that the Gamissanghwa-tang extracts have the hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of each test materials to the back of CS7BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen phase was induced. In the experiments of 5α-reductase type II inhibition assay, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Semen Cuscutae showed effective potential to inhibit the activity of 5α-reductase type II. And hair growth index of the Gamissanghwa-tang extracts ranked as 1.2, especially the hair growth index of Fructus Rubi is highest as 1.8. But there were no plant extracts which have effect on the DNA proliferation of hair dermal papilla cell measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation, the expression of growth factors such as IGF-I, KGF, HGF estimated by RT-PCR and protein synthesis of vibrissae hair follicle measured by [/sup 35/S] cysteine incorporation. Cortex Cinnamomi showed anti-bacterial effect on P. ovale, Radix Paeoniae Alba has the highest radical scavening activity and Radix Glycyrrhizae has the highest effects of NO synthesis. These results suggest that Gamissanghwa-tang can be used as a potent treatment agent for helping hair growth stimulation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.498-509
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• 2021

Background: A wide range of environmental factors, such as diseases, nutritional deficiencies, ageing, hormonal imbalances, stress, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, may affect the structure and function of the skin that covers the entire surface of the human body. In this study, we investigated roles of red ginseng oil (RGO) in enhancing skin functions, including hair growth and skin protection, using mouse models. Methods: For hair growth experiment, shaved dorsal skins of C57BL/6 mice were topically applied with vehicle, RGO, RGO's major compounds, or minoxidil for consecutive 21 days and skin tissues were examined the hair growth promoting capacity. For skin protection experiment, SKH-1 hairless mice were topically applied with vehicle or RGO twice a day for three days prior to exposure to UVC radiation at 20 kJ/cm². Skin tissues were collected to evaluate skin protective effects of RGO. Results: Topical application of RGO to C57BL/6 mice effectively promoted hair regeneration by inducing early telogen-to-anagen transition and significantly increasing the density and bulb diameter of hair follicles. Major compounds, including linoleic acids and β-sitosterol, contributed to RGO-promoted hair growth. Treatment with RGO as well as its major components upregulated expression of hair growth-related proteins. Furthermore, in SKH-1 hairless mice, RGO had a protective effect against UVC-induced skin damage by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, as well as inducing cytoprotective systems. Conclusion: These data suggest that RGO may be a potent agent for improving skin health and thereby preventing and/or treating hair loss and protecting skin against UV radiation.