• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.356-361
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• 2017

Houttuyniae Herba is widely used as a cosmetic for enhancing hair growth, and study on promoting mouse hair growth has also been reported. However, studies on the effects of the Houttuyniae Herba on dermal papilla (DP) cells, which play an important role in hair growth, are not well known. For this reason, we studied the effect of Houttuyniae Herba on DP cells. The strong antioxidant activity of Houttuyniae Herba was confirmed by ABTS assay. In the MTS assay, cell viability was reduced to 94.5% in DP cells by treatment of 2 mg/ml concentration of Houttuyniae Herb and cytotoxicity was not observed at 1 mg/ml concentration. The mRNA expression levels of Bone morphogenetic pretein (BMP6), fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), FGF10, and ${\beta}$-galactosidase genes, which are involved in hair growth cycle and hair loss induction, were measured by quantitative RT-PCR after Houttuyniae Herbtreatment. Houttuyniae Herb did not significantly affect mRNA expression of BMP6, FGF7, FGF10, and ${\beta}$-catenin, which are important factors for regulating the hair cycle, including type 1 $5{\alpha}$-reductase. However, mRNA expression of type 2 $5{\alpha}$-reductase, the major cause of male hair loss, was significantly reduced to 56.1% by treatment of Houttuyniae Herbtreatment. Taken together, these results suggest that the Houttuyniae Herbtreatment can help to treat lair loss through removing free radicals and suppression of the expression level of type 2 $5{\alpha}$-reductase in DP cells.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.31-31
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• 2018

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is the most common disorder in elderly men, involves androgenic hormone imbalance with chronic inflammation that causes imbalance between cell apoptosis and cell proliferation. As the root cause of the BPH remains unclear and synthetic drugs for treatment of BPH have undesirable side effects, the development of effective alternative medicines has been considered. Chinese Skullcap has been considered natural remedy to treat pyrexia, micturition disorder and inflammation. Although skullcap has effective properties on various diseases, the effects and molecular mechanism of Skullcap on BPH are not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Chinese Skullcap root extract (SRE) in testosterone-induced BPH rats. Compared with the untreated group, the SRE treatment group suppressed pathological alterations, such as prostate growth and increase in serum dihydrotestosterone and $5{\alpha}$-reductase levels. Furthermore, SRE significantly decreased the expression of androgen receptor and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. SRE also restored Bax/Bcl-2 balance. These effect of SRE was more prevalent than commercial $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor, finasteride. Taken together, we propose that SRE suppresses abnormal androgen events in prostate tissue and inhibits the development of BPH by targeting inflammation- and apoptosis-related markers. These finding strengthens that SRE could be used as plant-based $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitory alternative.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.407-412
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• 2015

We investigated the effect of ultra-high molecular weight poly-γ-glutamic acid (UHMW γ-PGA) on hair loss in vitro and in vivo. 5-Alpha reductase is an enzyme that metabolizes the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. By performing an in vitro experiment to analyze the inhibitory effects of UHMW γ-PGA on 5-alpha reductase activity, we determined that UHMW γ-PGA did in fact inhibit 5-alpha reductase activity, indicating the use of UHMW γ-PGA as a potential 5-alpha reductase inhibitor in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. To evaluate the promotion of hair growth in vivo, we topically applied UHMW γ-PGA and minoxidil on the shaved dorsal skin of telogenic C57BL/6 mice for 4 weeks. At 4 weeks, the groups treated with UHMW γ-PGA showed hair growth on more than 50% of the shaved skin, whereas the control group showed less hair growth. To investigate the progression of hair follicles in the hair cycle, hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed. Histological observations revealed that the appearance of hair follicles was earlier in the UHMW γ-PGA-treated group than in the control group. The number of hair follicles on the relative area of shaved skin in the UHMW γ-PGA-treated group was higher than that observed on the shaved skin in the control group. These results indicate that UHMW γ-PGA can promote hair growth by effectively inducing the anagen phase in telogenic C57BL/6 mice.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2016

Recently, increased attention has been directed toward medicinal extracts and their active ingredients as potential new drug candidates for androgenic alopecia. Resina Pini (RP), a resinous exudation obtained from Pinus sp. (Pinaceae), has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of infection, pain related to dental caries, and periodontal disease. Previously, we suggested that RP and its main constituent, abietic acid (abieta-7,13-dien-18-oic acid; AA), may play important roles against androgenic alopecia as $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitors. However, to date, there is no evidence that AA has hair growth-promoting effects in vivo. In this study, we found that 10 ~ 300 mg/kg RP and 3 ~ 30 mg/kg AA significantly promoted hair growth in a C3H/HeN mouse model of alopecia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the hair growth-promoting effects of RP and AA in vivo. From these results, RP and its main constituent AA can promote hair growth in mouse by inhibiting $5{\alpha}$-reductase activity and may be effective alternative therapies for androgenic alopecia.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.3 s.52
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• pp.273-277
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• 2005

This study was performed to develop new cosmeceutical agents with sebosuppressive activity from native plant extracts in Korea. Inhibitory efforts of the extracts on $5{\alpha}-reductase$ (5-AR) were evaluated by enzyme kinetics analysis using UV-spectrophotometric method. Two kinds of enzyme suspensions as 5-AR sources were prepared from rat liver tissue and cultured hSG cells. The sebosuppressive effects were determined by measuring the total lipid quantity produced in cultured hSG cells after incubation with the extracts. As a result, Pinus thunbergii extracts showed the most potent 5-AR inhibitory effects. Its $K_i$ values were 0.0002% and 0.0014% for rat liver 5-AR and human sebaceous gland 5-AR, respectively. Addition of Pinus thunberii extract to hSG cells showed 48% reduction in total lipid production at 0.005% concentration. In conclusion, Pinus thunbergii extracts can be used as a cosmeceutical agent to regulate sebum production and to alleviate the sebum-involved skin diseases, such as acne and seborrheic dermatitis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.24-27
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• 2006

Four ursane-type triterpenoids, 2${\alpha}$,3${\alpha}$,19${\alpha}$-trihydroxy-24-norurs-4(23),12-dien-28-oic acid (1), 4(R),23-epoxy-2${\alpha}$,3${\alpha}$,19${\alpha}$-trihydroxy-24-norurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), myrianthic acid (3), and tormentic acid (4), and a phenolic compound, ethyl gallate (5), from an EtOAc-soluble extract of the stems of Rumex japonicus, were subjected to in vitro bioassays to evaluate advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) inhibitory activity. Compounds 1 and 5 exhibited a significant inhibitory activity on AGEs formation with $IC_{50}$ value of 87 ${\mu}M$ and on RLAR with $IC_{50}$ value of 14.3 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Ethyl gallate (5) was isolated for the first time from this plant.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.315-335
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• 2002

This study was carried out to prove the effects of CBTLC on the $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibition, the sterilizing power for Propionibactrium acnes, the cytotoxicity of human monocyte, the inhibition for prosta-glandins($PGE_2$), Interleukins(IL-$1{\beta}$) and TNF-${\alpha}$ in inflammation, and the size of Hamster ear sebaceous gland concerned with Acnes. The result were obtained as follows : 1. On the $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibition of CBTLC in vitro, An undiluted solution of CBTLC was $71{\%}$ inhibition on $5{\alpha}$-reductase and $\frac{1}{10}$ diluted solution of CBTLC was $20{\%}$ inhibition on $5{\alpha}$-reductase. 2. On the sterilizing power for Propionibactrium acnes concerned in Acnes, an undiluted solution and $\frac{1}{10}$ diluted solution of CBTLC formed 12mm clear zone diameters. 3. CBTLC was showed the cytotoxicity of human monocyte in $0.08{\%}$ and $0.12{\%}$ of CBTLC. 4. $0.01{\%}$ and $0.04{\%}$ of CBTLC inhibited the production of prostaglandins($PGE_2$) in the human monocyte stimulated with P. acnes LPS. 5. $0.08{\%}$ and downward of GMHBS inhibited the production of interleukins(lL-$1{\beta}$) in the human monocyte stimulated with P. acnes LPS. 6. $0.08{\%}$ and $0.12{\%}$ of GMHBS inhihited the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the human monocyte stimulated with P. acnes LPS. 7. As the antiandrogenic compound, CBTLC was used in hamster ears with topical application. CBTLC was diminished slightly on the size of hamster ears sebaceous gland.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.305-310
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• 2010

Taxifolin-3-O-$\beta$-D-xylopyranoside and quercetin-3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnopyranoside were isolated from an EtOAc-soluble extract of the leaves of Chamaecyparis obtuse. Quercetin-3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnopyranoside was found to possess a potent inhibitory activity of human recombinant aldose reductase in vitro, its $IC_{50}$ value being $11.5\;{\mu}M$. Kinetic analysis showed that quercetin-3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnopyranoside exhibited uncompetitive inhibition against DL-glyceraldehyde. Also, quercetin-3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnopyranoside suppresses sorbitol accumulation in rat lens under high glucose conditions, demonstrating the potential to prevent sorbitol accumulation in vivo. These results suggest that this compound may be a promising agent in the prevention or treatment of diabetic complications.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.134-147
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• 2005

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Gami-Shengmayuipung-tang on acne. Methods : The effects of Gami-Shengmayuipung-tang (SYTSRG) on acne were measured by the $5\alpha-reductase$ inhibition, the sterilizing power for Propionibactrium acnes, the cytotoxicity of human monocyte, the inhibition for prostaglandins$(PGE_2)$, interleukins $(IL-l\beta)$ and $TNF-\alpha$ in inflammation, and the size of the hamtster ear sebaceous gland related to P. acnes. Results: On the $5\alpha-reductase$ inhibition of SYTSRG in vitro, an undiluted solution of SYTSRG showed $80\%$ inhibition on $5\alpha-reductase$ and 1/10 diluted solution of SYTSRG showed $40\%$ inhibition on $5\alpha-reductase$. On the sterilizing power for Propionibactrium acnes related acne, an undiluted solution and 1/10 diluted solution of SYTSRG formed $12\beta{\AE}$ clear zone diameters. SYTSRG did not show cytotoxicity of human monocyte. Concentrations of $0.01\%\;and\;0.04\%\;and\;0.08\%$ of SYTSRG inhibited the production of prostaglandins $(PGE_2)$ in the human monocyte stimulated with P. acnes LPS. $0.08\%$ and less of SYTSRG inhibited the production of interleukins $(IL-l\beta)$ in the human monocyte stimulated with P. acnes LPS. Concentrations of $0.04\%,\;0.08\%\;and\;0.12\%$ of SYTSRG inhibited the production of $TNF-\alpha$ in the human monocyte stimulated with P. acnes LPS. As the antiandrogenic compound, SYTSRG was used in hamster ears with topical application. SYTSRG diminished the size of the hamster ear sebaceous gland in males, but not in females. Conclusion: The present data suggest that SYTSRG may affect the primary stage of inflammation of acne.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 2012

$5{\alpha}$-Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the primary active metabolite of testosterone, catalyzed by $5{\alpha}$-reductase ($5{\alpha}R$) in the skin, prostate, and liver. In this study, the $5{\alpha}R$ activity in rat liver S9 fraction in the presence of a NADPH-generating system was evaluated and compared by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based in vitro assays. Testosterone and a $5{\alpha}R$ inhibitor, finasteride, were added to the S9 fractions and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Both testosterone and DHT were quantitatively measured and compared with two different GC-MS-based steroid profiling techniques. DHT was not detected by conventional GC-MS analysis in the absence of finasteride when the concentration of testosterone in the S9 fraction was less than $0.2{\mu}M$, whereas the isotope-dilution GC-MS (GC-IDMS) system was able to evaluate the $5{\alpha}R$ activity. Because the S9 fraction contains more reactive enzymes and is easier to collect from tissues compared with a microsomal solution, the combination of the S9 fraction and GC-IDMS technique may be a promising assay for evaluating the $5{\alpha}R$ activity in large-scale clinical studies.