Hair-Growth-Promoting Effects of Fermented Red Ginseng Marc and Traditional Polyherb Formula in C57BL/6 Mice

Phil Hyun Song,Gyu-Ryeul Park,Chang-Hyun Song,Dae Hwa Jung,Yoon-Hae Kim,Sae-Kwang Ku

doi:10.3390/app11031195

Phil Hyun Song, Gyu-Ryeul Park + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11031195

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Abstract

An abnormal hair-growth cycle induces hair loss, which affects psychological distress and impairs life quality. Red ginseng marc (RGM) is usually discarded as a byproduct after extracting red ginseng, but several studies have shown that the RGM still has bioactive components including ginsenosides. Therefore, the hair-growth effects of fermented RGM (fRGM) and traditional polyherb formula (PH) were examined in C57BL/6 mice. The dorsal hairs of mice were depilated, and they were topically treated with fRGM or PH at 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg or the combination of both middle doses (combi) once a day for two weeks. The hair-covering regions were significantly increased with higher doses of fRGM and PH and in combi groups, compared with the control treated with distilled water. Hair length, thickness and weight also increased in the treatment groups. In particular, the fRGM and PH increased the anagen-phased hair follicles, the follicular diameters and the dermal thickness. Immunostains for Ki-67 showed the anagen-phased cell division in the treatment groups. The beneficial effects were greater in the high doses of fRGM and PH and the combi groups. These suggest hair-growth-promoting effects of fRGM, PH and the combination by enhancing the hair-growth cycle.

Highlights

To find out whether the fermented type of Red ginseng marc (RGM), traditional polyherb formula can enhance hair growth, and whether the combination can have the synergic effects, we examined the promoting effects in hair-removed C57BL/6 mice
The current histopathological analyses revealed that components of fermented RGM (fRGM) and polyherb formula (PH) contribute to increasing follicular numbers, diameters and proliferation, in particular in the hair follicles located at the deep subcutis
There were no significant differences in hair-covering regions on a specific day during the treatments, the fRGM and PH significantly increased the regions that were regrown on days 0 to 14 and increased hair length, thickness and weight

Summary

Introduction

The hair-growth cycle is regulated by growth factors, cytokines and hormones; the altered growth cycle can cause hair loss. The most common hair losses related to the abnormal growth cycle are androgenetic alopecia and chronic alopecia areata [3,4]. The other factors include heredity, aging, medication and psychological stress [4]. Hair loss is not considered a life-threatening condition; it causes psychological distress and impairment of life quality [4,5]. In this context, the treatment is a major concern for the cosmetologists and dermatologists. Finasteride (as a 5-α reductase type II inhibitor) and minoxidil (as an antihypertensive vasodilator) have been approved by the

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