Effect of petroleum ether and ethanol fractions of seeds of Abrus precatorius on androgenic alopecia

Abstract

Seeds of Abrus precatorius L., Fabaceae, are commonly used as purgative, emetic, aphrodisiac and in nervous disorder in traditional and folk medicines. In present study petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of A. precatorius seeds are evaluated for reversal of androgen (testosterone by i.m route) induced alopecia in male albino wistar rats and compared to topical administration of standard antiandrogenic drug fi nasteride for 21 days. The results were refl ected from visual observation and histological study of several skin sections via various parameters as anagen to telogen ratio and follicle density/mm area of skin surface. The animal of group 1 who were treated with only testosterone became alopecic on visual observation. Animals of Group 2, 3 and 4 who were treated with fi nasteride, petroleum ether and ethanolic extract of seed respectively topically along with testosterone (i.m) did not developed alopecia. To investigate the mechanism of observed activity, in vitro experiments were performed. Inhibition of 5α-reductase activity by extracts and fi nasteride suggest that they reversed androgen induced alopecia by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (potent androgen responsible for androgenic alopecia). So it may be concluded that petroleum ether and ethanolic extract of A. precatorius seed posses anti androgenic alopecia activity due to inhibition of 5α-reductase enzyme.

Formulation Development and Investigations on Therapeutic Potential of Nanogel from Beta vulgaris L. Extract in Testosterone-Induced Alopecia

“…Androgenetic alopecia in men is developed by testosterone, along with a genetic predisposition [ 44 , 53 , 54 ]. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone promote hair follicle shrinkage, according to histopathology of skin sections [ 55 ]. Alopecia was induced in mice of all groups by administration of testosterone.…”

Protective Effect of Ellagic Acid on Testosterone-induced Alopecia in Rats

“…Testosterone acts either directly or it is converted to dihydrotestosterone by 5" reductase and exerts its effect in hair follicles through binding with androgen receptors 36 . Finasteride, 5"-reductase inhibitor has been utilized by several other researcher for testosterone induced alopecia [37][38][39] . It is reported by Kim et al 40 that hair loss by testosterone may involve apoptosis of hair follicles rather than androgen metabolic pathway.…”