The Hair Growth Effect of Polygoni mulitiflori Radix Water Extracts in C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Polygoni mulitiflori Radix water extracts (PMWE) on hair growth and hair follicle development in C57BL/6 mice. Six weeks old female mice were divided into 4 groups including normal group (saline, N), vehicle control group (jojoba oil+100% ethanol+saline, VC), positive control group (3% minoxidil, PC), and experimental group (PMWE, E), and they were topically applied with an amount of 0.2 mL experimental compounds once a day, 6 days a week for 4 weeks. Hair regrowth was evaluated by the gross examination. Topical treatment of PMWE and 3% minoxidil to dorsal skin accelerated hair regrowth faster than N and VC groups. E and PC groups promoted development and elongation of hair follicles compared with N and VC groups. In week 4, absolute weight of heart and spleen were significantly heavy in PC group compared with N, VC and E groups. Relative weight of spleen was significantly heavy in PC group compared with N and VC groups. Relative weight of right kidney was significantly light in PC group compared with N, VC and E groups. Whereas absolute and relative weight of thymus were significantly light in E group compared with N group (p⁄0.05). In week 4, there was significantly high value of RBC count in PC group compared with N and VC groups, and significantly low value of platelet count in PC group compared with N group(p⁄0.05). These results indicate that PMEW effectively stimulated hair growth with development of hair follicle in an animal model and that it showed more safer than minoxidil.