Abstract
Androgenic alopecia is a common type of hair loss, usually caused by testosterone metabolism generating dihydrotestosterone and hair follicular micro-inflammation. These processes induce dermal papilla cells to undergo apoptosis. Currently approved effective medications for alopecia are Finasteride, an oral 5α-reductase inhibitor, Minoxidil, a topical hair growth promoter, and Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory agent, all of which, however, have several adverse side effects. In our study, we showed the bioactivity of Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl. (AE) extract performed by 95% ethanol, and verbascoside (VB), a biomarker of AE extract. Both AE extract and VB were studied for their effects on dermal papilla cell viability and the cell cycle by using MTT assay and flow cytometry. The effect of an anti-inflammatory activity of AE extract and VB on IL-1β, NO, and TNF-α, released from LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells, and IL-1α and IL-6 released from irradiated dermal papilla cells were detected using ELISA technique. The preventive effect on dermal papilla cell apoptosis induced by testosterone was determined by MTT assay. In controlled in vitro assays it was found that AE extract and VB at various concentrations induced dermal papilla cell proliferation which was indicated by an increase in the number of cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. AE extract at 250 µg/mL concentration or VB at 62.50 µg/mL concentration prevented cell apoptosis induced by testosterone at a statistically significant level. In addition, both AE extract and VB greatly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from RAW 264.7 and dermal papilla cells. The release of IL-1β, TNF-α, and NO from RAW 264.7 cells, as well as IL-1α and IL-6 from dermal papilla cells, was also diminished by AE extract 250 µg/mL and VB 125 µg/mL. Our results indicate that AE extract and VB are promising ingredients for anti-hair loss applications. However, further clinical study is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of AE extract and VB as treatment for actual hair loss.
Highlights
Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss in men and women and can be serious enough to have a detrimental effect on an individual’s social life and self-confidence
We investigated the inhibitory effect of Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl. (AE) extract and VB against the factors that contribute to hair loss in the human dermal papilla and mouse macrophage cells
VB could not be detected in the AE extract using hexane. These results suggest that AE extract in 95% ethanol was a promising candidate for further study because it had the highest content of VB
Summary
Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss in men and women and can be serious enough to have a detrimental effect on an individual’s social life and self-confidence. The androgen receptor complex translocate into the nucleus and activates androgen receptor-regulated genes[1] This results in stimulation of TGF-beta mRNA synthesis in the dermal papilla cells. The apoptosis of dermal papilla cells induces the catagen phase of the hair growth cycle, causing the hair to stop g rowing[3,4]. Another contributing factor to hair loss is hair follicle microinflammation which has been identified in patients presenting b aldness[1]. Due to a growing understanding of the mechanisms causing AGA, researchers are interested in investigating herb-derived compounds that show anti-androgenic and anti-inflammatory activity as potential new ingredients for hair loss treatments
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