Development and Evaluation of the Herbal Medicine for Hair Growth-promoting Activity

Abstract

Hair loss affects both men and women of all ages and often significantly affects social and psychologic health. Recent therapeutic approach for hair loss such as finasteride and minoxidil focused on regulation of hormonal system blood flow. However, long-term use of these drugs caused adverse effects. To develop herbal medicine for therapeutic effect on hair growth, here we screened the 10 medicinal herbs (Red ginseng, Licorice, Ulmus, Barberry root, Lycium root, Rehmanniae radix crudus, Sophora root, Sweet flag, Polygala root, Achyranthes) based on oriental medicine literature. We measured cytotoxicity, anti-oxidant activity, and 5-α reductase inhibitory effect of the herbal medicine on human dermal papilla (DP) cells to investigate therapeutic effect of the herbal medicine. Treatment of the 1% herbal medicine did not show any cytotoxic effects, and cell growth was increased by treatment of the 0.1% herbal medicine. In addition, the herbal medicine showed stronger antioxidant activity than resveratrol and comparable inhibitory activity of 5-α reductase with finasteride. Furthermore, when applied to in vivo mouse model, we also observed increases in the number and length of hair of the herbal medicine-treated group. These results suggest that the herbal medicine promotes hair growth by its antioxidant activity and inhibitory activity of 5-α reductase and might therefore be a promising hair growth-promoting agent.

Hair Growth Promotion Effect of Nelumbinis Semen Extract with High Antioxidant Activity

“…Moreover, the PC group in our study achieved a 68% hair recovery, whereas the NS extract group reached 81% within the same time. Another study reported that the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine administration of a medicinal herb in C57BL/6 mice resulted in a hair growth index of 1.7 points [27]. Additionally, Saengbal-eum-II, a medicinal herb known to possess good hair-growth-promoting effects, had a high hair growth index of 2.28 points [43].…”

“…A score of 0 denoted no hair growth with pink skin color, 1 point indicated that the skin color was gray, 2 points indicated the appearance of some hair growth with (dark gray skin color), and 3 points denoted hair that was completely grown (black skin color). The hair growth index was calculated using equation ( 3 ) by measuring the ratio of the area of hair growth to the total area, and the sum of the area ratio multiplied by the score was averaged for each group [ 27 ]. Thus, the minimum value of the hair growth index was 0 and the maximum value was 3: …”

Hair Growth Effect of DN106212 in C57BL/6 Mouse and Its Network Pharmacological Mechanism of Action

“…In contrast, scar-free hair loss, such as hereditary androgenic hair loss, partial alopecia, and telogen alopecia, may be recovered if the hair follicle is maintained and the symptoms are relieved [ 54 ]. Male, female, and partial alopecia are mainly caused by male hormones [ 55 ]. Testosterone, a male hormone, is converted into DHT, which causes hair loss by interacting with 5α reductase around the hair root [ 56 ].…”