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 hairshaved skin of C57BL/6 mice every day for 15 days. The color, thickness and density of hair were monitored every 5th 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 15th day, respectively. And hair thickness of minoxidil and SSY groups was increased compared to that of vehicle treated group on the 15th 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.