• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.933-941
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• 2021

Ginsenoside Rg4 is a rare ginsenoside that is naturally found in ginseng, and exhibits a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in several cell types. The purpose of this study was to use an in vivo model of hair follicle (HF)-mimic based on a human dermal papilla (DP) spheroid system prepared by three-dimensional (3D) culture and to investigate the effect of Rg4 on the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Treatment of the DP spheroids with Rg4 (20 to 50 ㎍/ml) significantly increased the viability and size of the DP spheres in a dose-dependent manner. Rg4 also increased the mRNA and protein expression of DP signature genes that are related to hair growth including ALP, BMP2, and VCAN in the DP spheres. Analysis of the signaling molecules and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that Rg4 induces the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, which activates the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results correlated with not only the increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin following the treatment of the DP spheres with Rg4 but also the significant elevation of mRNA expression of the downstream target genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway including WNT5A, β-catenin, and LEF1. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg4 promotes the hair-inductive properties of DP cells by activating the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in DP spheres, suggesting that Rg4 could be a potential natural therapy for hair growth.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2021

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β (Ser9) and β-catenin (Ser552 and Ser675). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202/Tyr204)-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2020

In the present study, we have refined gomisin N, which represents activity in the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis), and have identified optimal extraction conditions for obtaining extracts with high content of gomisin N. The activity of the extracts and fractions was evaluated, and the results indicated approximately 29% proliferation activity in the group treated with 1 ㎍/mL of n-hexane fraction. Column chromatography was used to assess the active ingredient in the n-hexane fraction, and two compounds, namely gomisin N(1) and schisandrin(2), were isolated and identified. When the HFDPCs proliferation activity was tested for the isolated compounds, gomisin N exhibited ≥ 20% proliferation activity. Thus, via response surface methodology (RSM), the optimum extraction conditions to obtain the maximum level of gomisin N from the fruit of S. chinensis were determined, where ethanol proportion, extraction time, and extraction temperature were used as the independent variables. The results revealed coefficient of determination ≥ 0.95 and p-value ≤ 0.05, which confirmed the fit of the model. The optimum extraction conditions to achieve the maximum content of gomisin N were as follows: ethanol proportion 83.8%, extraction temperature 80 ℃, and extraction time 8.7 h. The content of gomisin N using these conditions was predicted as 378,300 ppm, and a mean value close to the predicted value (376,884 ppm) was obtained while validating the aforementioned conditions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.47-53
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• 2021

Objectives : Currently, the alopecia is one of the most emotionally stressful syndromes in human life. Human hair dermal papilla cells (HDPCs) play an essential role in controlling hair growth and in regulating hair cycle. We performed MTT assay, cell cycle, and western blot to determine the effects of essential oil from Coicis Semen (ECS) on hair growth in HDPCs. Methods : We monitored cell proliferations by MTT assay in HDPCs. After setting up the safe and effective concentration range to be treated ECS, cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. Also, the protein expression of hair growth-related factors such as insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), Wnt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), serine/threonine-specific protein kinase (Akt) in HDPCs was determined by western blot. Results : As results, cell proliferation was increased in ECS group compared to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group and minoxidil (MNXD) group. Cell number of ECS group was more decrease in sub G1 phase than cell number of DMSO group. Also, cell number of ECS group increased compared to cell number of DMSO group in G1 phase. Protein expression of ECS group was higher than protein expression of DMSO group on related hair growth factors (IGF-1, Wnt, ERK, Akt). Conclusion : As mentioned above, ECS increased cell proliferation and the protein expression of IGF-1, Wnt, ERK, and Akt. These results suggest that ECS could be used as a potential material for the treatment of alopecia by increasing the proliferation of HDPCs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.18-32
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the safety, effects on proliferation of hair papilla cells, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms of Artemisia sieversiana Ehrh. ex Willd. (AS) extract. Methods: Safety tests through purity testing, acute toxicity tests, and repeated toxicity tests were performed using AS extract (ASE) which had been dried for over two years. Cell culture and proliferation tests were conducted; VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), and EGF (epidermal growth factor) and protein expression analyses were performed for mechanistic evaluation; and inhibitory effects of ASE on the RNA expression of testosterone, 5𝛼-reductase, and aromatase was assessed. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of ASE was confirmed by measuring the levels of nitric oxide, inflammatory mediators (TNF-𝛼 and PGE2), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and IL-8), and chemokine MCP-1. Results: The safety of ASE was confirmed. The mechanism of cell proliferation in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells involved the promotion of VEGF, bFGF, and EGF expression. ASE decreased mRNA expression of testosterone, 5𝛼-reductase, and aromatase-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. PGE2 and TNF-𝛼 production by inflammatory mediators was also significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression was inhibited. Conclusions: ASE is suggested to promote papillary cell growth at the cellular level, to suppress expression of various enzymes involved in hair cycle and cell death, and to inhibit hair loss through anti-androgen, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2023

At present, many countries around the world are legalizing cannabis and its products, and research on various treatments using cannabis is being actively conducted. However, the cannabis plant contains other compounds whose biological effects have not yet been established. We investigated the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on hair growth in human dermal papilla cells (HDPCs). 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays were performed to determine the antioxidant activity of CBD. The HDPCs viability of CBD was examined via water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assay. The expression of hair-loss-related markers in HDPCs by CBD treatment was analyzed by real-time PCR and western blotting. The DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity assay showed that CBD had superior antioxidant activities. In HDPCs, CBD increased cellular proliferation at concentrations without cytotoxicity. It also increased the expressions of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF). These results correlated with a decrease in the expression of inhibition-related factors, such as androgen receptor (AR) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-B1). Moreover, CBD resulted in a significant increase in the phosphorylation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Therefore, it is suggested that CBD may be a potential remedy for the treatment of alopecia.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2022

Betula platyphylla extract includes various materials which showed biological activity such as terpenoids. For this reason, Betula platyphylla extract has been used to alleviate inflammation. In this study, extract of Betula platyphylla was obtained and purified using several solvents and evaluated whether they showed effect on prevention of hair loss. Cell cytotoxicity assay was performed to investigate the effect of extracts on cell proliferation. Western blotting was performed to observe the changes in expression of several related growth factors such as β-catenin, VEGF, IGF1, and cyclin D. Also, 5-α-reductase activity was measured. The ethyl acetate extract was divided into four partial extracts and named as H3-1, H3-2, H3-3, and H3-4. The H3-2 extract showed proliferation activity of human derma papilla cell and increased the protein expression of several related growth factors such as β-catenin, VEGF, IGF1, and cyclin D, comparable to the effect of Ethyl 3,4,5-Trimethoxy Benzoate (ETB)and Lupeol (LPO). Moreover, we found that the fraction H3 was shown to decrease 5-α-reductase activity while ETB and LPO had no significant effect on 5-α-reductase activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 1993

Apexes of basidia in Rhodophyllus muraii var. albus are divided into four sections or depressed in the center. A spore is formed by inflation of the apex of the sterigma. The apex of the sterigma is swollen and changed from a papilla through a peinsform and a club into a globeform. Six spots of globose spore are regularly or irregularly depressed with hilum axes. Finally the spores come cuboid.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2023

Malignant tumors located near the papilla of the duodenum can cause concomitant biliary and duodenal obstruction, which reduces the quality of life and increases the morbidity and mortality. Apart from traditional surgical treatment methods, various treatment methods such as endoscopic treatment and radiological interventions are used for the treatment. This study aimed to explore treatment methods according to the situation of patients with malignant biliary obstruction combined with duodenal obstruction.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.384-390
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of wheat bran on the promotion of hair growth. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with n-hexane fraction of wheat bran, the hair-fiber lengths of the vibrissa follicles significantly increased. Moreover, n-hexane fraction of wheat bran was found to significantly induce the telogen-anagen transition in C57BL/6 mice. The fraction increased the proliferation of immortalized vibrissa dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in a dose dependent manner. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms in relation to proliferation of DPCs by the fraction of wheat bran, we examined the expression of cell cycle proteins and wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling components. Western blot analysis revealed that the proliferation of DPC by n-hexane fraction of wheat bran was accompanied by increased the level of cyclin D1, cyclin E, phospho-CDK2 and phospho-pRB. In addition, the fraction of wheat bran increased the level of phospho(ser552)-${\beta}$-catenin, phospho(ser675)-${\beta}$-catenin and phospho(ser9)-GSK$3{\beta}$. These results suggest that the hair growing potential of wheat bran mediated by proliferation of DPCs via the regulation of cell cycle proteins and Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling.