Hair Growth-promoting Activity Research Articles

Effect of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad fruits on testosterone-induced alopecia

Alopecia is a psychologically distressing phenomenon. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia, which affects millions of men and women worldwide, and is an androgen driven disorder. Here, the Citrullus colocynthis Schrad fruit is evaluated for hair growth activity in androgen-induced alopecia. Petroleum ether extract of C. colocynthis was applied topically for its hair growth-promoting activity. Alopecia was induced in albino mice by testosterone administration intramuscularly for 21 days. Its inhibition by simultaneous administration of extract was evaluated using follicular density, anagen/telogen (A/T) ratio and microscopic observation of skin sections. Finasteride (5α-reductase inhibitor) solution was applied topically and served as positive control. Petroleum ether extract of C. colocynthis exhibited promising hair growth-promoting activity, as reflected from follicular density, A/T ratio and skin sections. The treatment was also successful in bringing a greater number of hair follicles in anagenic phase than the standard finasteride. The result of treatment with 2 and 5% petroleum ether extracts were comparable to the positive control finasteride. The petroleum ether extract of C. colocynthis and its isolate is useful in the treatment of androgen-induced alopecia.

Effect of Sodium Silicate on Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice

A promoting effect of Na₂SiO₃ on hair regrowth was investigated using an animal model of C57BL/6 mice. There were four experimental groups including distilled water (DW, a negative control), 5% minoxidil (MXD, a positive control), 50% Na₂SiO₃, and 100% Na₂SiO₃ solution. The animals were shaved with an electric clipper and then test solutions applied daily with a volume of 0.2 ㎖ per to the dorsal skin of mice for 3 weeks. Body weight and food and water consumption were measured weekly. Photographs of hair regrowth were taken at experimental day 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21. Activities of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as expressions of growth factors were also determined in the dorsal skin of mice. The animal body weight were not significantly changed among the experimental groups. The MXD and Na₂SiO₃ accelerated hair regrowth compared with DW. The elongation of hair follicles were evidently observed in MXD and 50 or 100% Na₂SiO₃ groups. MXD significantly increased γ-glutamyl transpeptidase at day 14, compared with DW (P＜0.05). But the activities of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were not significantly increased in Na₂SiO₃ groups, compared with DW. The expression of epidermal growth factor was significantly increased in MXD and Na₂SiO₃ groups, compared with DW (P＜0.05). The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was not significantly changed by MXD or Na₂SiO₃ treatments. The expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was clearly decreased in MXD and Na₂SiO₃ groups, compared with DW. These results indicate that Na₂SiO₃ may have a hair growth-promoting activity and it can be used for treatment of alopecia or boldness in humans.

Hair growth regulation by the extract of aromatic plant Erica multiflora

Hair growth problems can affect human physical and mental health and are of particular relevance during the aging process. In an effort to resolve such problems, we attempted to find plants having hair growth regulation activity and thus collected plant extracts from Tunisia for bioprospecting purposes. Among them, we investigated the Erica multiflora extract to evaluate the hair growth promotion activity by using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay and cell cycle assay on human dermal papilla cells in vitro and an administration assay on mouse dorsal skin in vivo. The results showed that the Erica multiflora extract promotes dermal papilla cell growth and cell cycle with high activity, and induced hair growth in vivo by induction of anagen phase from telogen phase.

Effect of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb on androgen‐induced alopecia

Alopecia is a psychologically distressing condition. Androgenetic alopecia, which affects millions of men and women, is an androgen-driven disorder. Here, Cuscuta reflexa Roxb is evaluated for hair growth activity in androgen-induced alopecia. Petroleum ether extract of C. reflexa was studied for its hair growth-promoting activity. Alopecia was induced in albino mice by testosterone administration for 20 days. Its inhibition by simultaneous administration of extract was evaluated using follicular density, anagen/telogen ratio, and microscopic observation of skin sections. To investigate the mechanism of observed activity, in vitro experiments were performed to study the effect of extract and its major component on activity of 5alpha-reductase enzyme. Petroleum ether extract of C. reflexa exhibited promising hair growth-promoting activity as reflected from follicular density, anagen/telogen ratio, and skin sections. Inhibition of 5alpha-reductase activity by extract and isolate suggest that the extract reversed androgen-induced alopecia by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. The petroleum ether extract of C. reflexa and its isolate is useful in treatment of androgen-induced alopecia by inhibiting the enzyme 5alpha-reductase.

Development and evaluation of polyherbal formulation for hair growth–promoting activity

Cuscuta reflexa (Roxb.), Citrullus colocynthis (Schrad.), and Eclipta alba (Hassk.) are traditionally acclaimed herbs for their hair growth-promoting potential. Aim In the present study, it was envisaged to prepare herbal formulations containing petroleum ether extracts of the three herbs in varying ratio and evaluating the formulations for the hair growth-promoting activity. The formulations as well as minoxidil (2%) solution (positive control) were applied topically on shaved skin of rats, and the time required for initiation and completion of hair growth cycle was recorded. Hair growth initiation time was markedly reduced to one third on treatment with the prepared formulation compared with control animals. The time required for complete hair growth was also reduced by 32%. Quantitative analysis of hair growth cycle after treatment with formulations and minoxidil (2%) exhibited greater number of hair follicles in anagenic phase compared with control. The results thus corroborate with the traditionally acclaimed hair growth-promoting capabilities of the plants. The prepared formulation also holds potential for treatment of alopecia.