Abstract
BackgroundHouttuynia cordata Thunb (HC) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Asia for the treatment of patients with alopecia, usually in combination with other two herbal medicines (Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFVA) and green tea (GT)). However, the effect of this herbal complex has not been clearly demonstrated. We sought to determine the hair growth-promoting effect of this herbal complex (HC, PFVA, and GT) in the animal model.MethodsSix-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (negative control, finasteride (1 mg/kg) as a positive control, and two (200 and 400 mg/kg) concentrations of the herbal complex as experimental groups) and were fed its corresponding medications orally for 25 days. Hair growth was evaluated visually and microscopically. Western blot analysis for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was performed.ResultsThe herbal complex exhibited hair growth-promoting activity in C57BL/6 mice. Grossly, the area of hair regrowth was 55.1 (±3.8) %, 70.2 (±6.3) % and 83.5 (±5.7) % in negative control, herbal complex 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg group, respectively. In histologic examination, the hair follicle count in deep subcutis was 2.6 (±0.7), 5.8 (±0.7) and 8.6 (±1.2) and the diameter of hair follicles was 11.9 (±5.0) μm, 17.4 (±3.9) μm and 22.8 (±5.2) μm in negative control, herbal complex 200 and 400 mg/kg group, respectively. The expression of IGF-1 was 0.14 (±0.01), 0.23 (±0.02) and 0.24 (±0.01) and the expression of TGF-β1 was 0.26 (±0.01), 0.19 (±0.02) and 0.15 (±0.01) in negative control, the 200 and 400 mg/kg group, respectively.ConclusionsThis data provides adequate preliminary experimental evidence to support the hair regeneration effect of this herbal complex.
Highlights
Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HC) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Asia for the treatment of patients with alopecia, usually in combination with other two herbal medicines (Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFVA) and green tea (GT))
From the High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatogram, the contents of quercetin, rosmarinic acid (RA) and tannin were determined as 0.14 ± 0.08 mg/g of HC, 17.7 ± 0.80 mg/g of Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta (PFVA) and 56.74 ± 0.17 mg/g of Green tea (GT), respectively
The levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 protein in skin were measured by Western blotting
Summary
Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HC) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Asia for the treatment of patients with alopecia, usually in combination with other two herbal medicines (Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFVA) and green tea (GT)). We sought to determine the hair growth-promoting effect of this herbal complex (HC, PFVA, and GT) in the animal model. In India, its leaf juice was used orally to treat cholera, dysentery, and for purification of blood [16]. It was used as an antidote and astringent [17]. It was used to drain pus and to enhance voiding [18] The history of such effects originated from an oriental pharmaceutical text, Ben cao gang mu [19] (first published in 1593, Ming Dynasty of China), which is regarded as the most complete and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine
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