Effects of topically applied Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. extract on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. extract on hair growth. Four‐week‐old male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to three experimental groups (n=5/group); the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group (NC), the minoxidil group (PC), and the Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. extract group (PSE). Hairs of animals were shaved on the dorsal skin before the study and 100 μℓ of test samples were topically applied for 3 weeks everyday, while the dorsal skin was taken pictures on the 0th, 7th, 14th, 21st day. We observed morphology, length of hair follicle, and no. of mast cells and stem cell factors (SCF) on skin tissues. PSE group markedly promoted the hair growth than did NC and PC groups. Depth of hair follicle in PSE group(843.33±84.33 μm) was the deepest the deepest in PSE group, while those of NC or PC group were 758.33±150.05 μm and 655.00±145.45 μm, respectively. In case of number of mast cells, PSE group have shown the lowest in number(1.50±0.29) in comparison to NC(6.33±0.88) and PC(7.00±0.71)(p<0.001). Also, SCF staining in follicles, mast cells, skin layer indicated that PSE‐treated group have shown the strongest immune response than did the NC and PC groups. From the findings, topical application of PSE had a positive effect on hair growth and improved hair follicle length, mast cell, and immune response. Further research should be conducted to clarify the action mechanism related to Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. extract.Grant Funding Source: This research was supported by Basic Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(2011–0013949)