Ethanol extract of Sinsun-yukza-hwan, a Korean medicinal prescription, promotes hair growth in C57BL/6 mice, an alopecia animal model

Objectives : In Korean medicine, a prescription of Sinsun-yukza-hwan (Shenxian-liuzi-wan, SSY) has been used in clinic for treatment of alopecia via oral. This study was performed to determine transdermal effects of the ethanol extract from SSY on hair growth and -related gene expressions in mice. Methods : We analyzed index compound, 5-hydroxy-methyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), in SSY extract by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). 6 weeks old C57BL/6 mice with removed hair were used as an alopecia animal model. Mice were divided into 3 experimental groups including normal (3 water: 1 ethanol: 2 polyethylene glycol mixture as a vehicle), SSY extract and 5% minoxidil (as a positive control), treated groups. SSY was applied topically on the hair-shaved skin of C57BL/6 mice every day for 15 days. The color, thickness and density of hair were monitored every $5^{th}$ day by naked eye, photograph and phototrichogram using folliscope. Also hair growth-associated gene expressions were measured by immunoblotting assay. Results : Hair density of minoxidil or SSY-treated group was significantly increased compared to that of vehicle application on the $15^{th}$ day, respectively. And hair thickness of minoxidil and SSY groups was increased compared to that of vehicle treated group on the $15^{th}$ day, respectively. Induction of insulin-like-growth factor 1(IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also significantly accelerated by SSY extract compared to those of vehicle-applied group. Conclusions : These results provide scientific evidence to support the potent multi-application of SSY as a cosmeceutical material for promoting hair growth.