This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a powder of steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworms (SMSP), Bombyx mori, on hair growth/loss in vivo in C3H mice. Topically applied SMSP for at least 10 days or longer showed potent hair growth promoting activity. SMSP-treated mice showed increase in hair weight significantly compared with control mice which were not treated with SMSP. Orally administered SMSP also showed hair growth promoting activity, which was lower than that when applied topically. In conclusion, SMSP was identified as a potential candidate for a novel hair-loss preventing and/or hair-growth promoting agent, which shortened the telogen phase to advance the following anagen phase in C3H mice in vivo when SMSP was applied topically for at least 10 days or longer.

The current study was conducted in order to investigate promotional effects of herbal extracts on hair growth in an animal model of mice. There were four experimental groups, including distilled water (DW) as a negative control (NC), 3% minoxidil (MXD) as a positive control (PC), 50% ethanol (EtOH) as a vehicle control (VC), and herbal extract (HE) as the experimental treatment (E). The HE was extracted with ethanol from plants, including Gardenia, Mentha arvensis, Rosemary, and Lavender. Six-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were shaved with an electric clipper and the test materials were topically treated with 0.2 ml per mouse daily for three weeks. Photographic evaluation of hair re-growth was performed weekly during a period of three weeks. The number of mast cells was counted on the dorsal skin section of mice. The enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), were determined using a biochemical autoanalyzer. No clinical signs were observed in any of the experimental groups. As a result of photometric analysis, topical application of HE to dorsal skin for two weeks resulted in significantly faster acceleration of hair regrowth, compared with that of the NC or VC group (P<0.05). The PC and E groups showed a significant decrease in mast cell population, compared to the NC group. Activities of ALP and γ-GT were significantly increased in the PC and E groups, compared to the NC or VC group (P<0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that the herbal extract may have hair-growth promoting activity equal to that of MXD.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of black sesame oil on hair growth in a shaving animal model of C57BL/6 mice. Five-week-old male mice were acclimated for one week under 22±1 µl room temperature, 50±5% relative humidity, and 12 hours of a light/dark cycle before beginning the experiment. The animals were divided into three groups, including the normal group (saline, N), positive control group (3% MXD, PC), and experimental group (black sesame oil, E) and received topical application of 100 µl once per day, six days per week, for a period of three weeks. Hair regrowth was evaluated by gross and histological examination. In addition, immunohistochemical observation for SCF, the activities of enzymes, including ALP and γ-GT, and the expression quantity of growth factors, including IGF-1 in the skin of mice was performed or evaluated. Topical treatment with black sesame oil and 3% minoxidil for three weeks to dorsal skin resulted in more rapid acceleration of hair regrowth in the E and PC groups than in the N group. Development and elongation of hair follicles were promoted in the E and PC groups, compared with the N group. Serum ALP activity was significantly higher in the E group, compared with the N group within three weeks (p<0.05). Skin ALP activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.05), and higher in the E and PC groups than in the N group within three weeks with no significant differences. Serum γ-GT activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.01), and significantly higher in the E group, compared with the N group within three weeks (p<0.05). Skin γ-GT activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.05), and significantly higher in the PC (p<0.01) and E (p<0.001) groups, compared with the N group within three weeks. IGF-1 expression in the skin was significantly higher in the PC and E groups, compared with the N group (p<0.01). SCF antigens were heavily stained in bulge, stem cells, and dermal papilla and middle stained in inner root sheath, outer root sheath, and epidermis in the E and PC groups. These results indicate that black sesame oil effectively stimulated hair growth in an animal model via several mechanisms and that it can be used practically for hair growth or prevention of hair loss in human beings.

최근 들어 홍삼의 발모효과가 실험적으로 입증이 되었으나 임상적인 효능에 대해서는 아직 연구가 부족한 실정이다. 본 임상시험에서는 홍삼사포닌 Rg3 0.003%가 함유된 샴푸(Somang Co., Korea)의 사용에 따른 탈모방지 및 발모 탈모 및 발모효과를 인체적용시험을 통해 확인하고자 한다. 탈모로 진단된 42명의 환자가 참여하였으며, 홍삼사포닌 Rg3 0.003%가 함유된 헤어샴푸를 사용하는 군과 홍삼사포닌 Rg3 0.003%를 제외한 헤어샴푸를 사용하는 군으로 나누어 16주간 제품 사용 후 모발의 굵기, 밀도, 성장속도를 측정하였고, 탈모 개선 정도의 전문가 육안평가 및 피험자의 주관적 만족도로 평가하였다. 또한 제품사용의 피험자 주관적 기호도를 추가적으로 조사하였다. 시험 결과 시험제품 사용 후 16주에서 모발의 굵기, 모발의 밀도 및 모발 성장속도가 모두 통계적으로 유의성 있게 증가하였으며 전문가 육안평가와 피험자의 주관적 설문평가, 환자의 기호도 면에서도 시험제품이 더 우수한 결과를 보였다. 결론적으로 홍삼사포닌 Rg3가 함유된 샴푸는 피부에 자극 없이 탈모방지 및 양모개선 효과에 도움을 주는 제품으로 판단된다.

In this study, to develop hair growth agents using natural products which has excellent ability to promote hair growth effect and fewer side effect, animal experiment and clinical trials was performed to evaluate hair growth promotion effect of herbal product containing Rosa mutiflora roots extracts as a main component (RMHP). 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were removed the dorsal hair using thioglycolate, and applied 15% EtOH solution as a negative control, 5% minoxidil as a positive control and RMHP to dorsal skin. In the results of macroscopy and photo-interpretation, RMHP group recorded 100% (+++++) of hair growth was proved to significantly stimulate hair growth against 80% (++++) negative control group. 37 patients were treated with RMHP and evaluated the therapeutic effect at 16 weeks. Hair density was significantly increased at 16 weeks after applying RMHP (125.0±4.9 FU/cm2) compared to before treatment (104.3±4.7 FU/cm2, p 〈 0.05), and hair thickness were also significantly increased (0.066±0.003 mm) than before treatment (0.055±0.002 mm, p 〈 0.05). The result of clinical photo-interpretation using 7-point rating scale assessment, after 16 weeks clinical symptoms were evaluated to significantly improve with 1.23±0.05 (p 〈 0.05). Therefore, the results of this study were observed that RMHP have hair loss prevention effect and hair growth promotion effect to hair loss patients.