Aggregation properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on a cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose, Polyquaternium-10 (PQ-10), of low charge density were studied by potentiometric and pyrene fluorescence methods and compared with those of poly(diallyldimethylammomium chloride) (PDADMAC) of high charge density. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) was measured with the potentiometric method and further confirmed with the fluorescence method. The former was found to be more accurate. The value of the cac for the SDS/PQ-10 system was measured at 100, 200, and 400 ppm polymer and at 288.2,298.2, and 308.2 K. They showed almost the same cac value, 0.04 mmol dm-3. The I1/I3 value of the pyrene fluorescence spectrum in the SDS/PQ-10 system at higher SDS concentration was smaller than that in SDS/PDADMAC solution and much larger than that of water. From the binding isotherm by the potentiometric method, the free DS- concentration (Cf) and the bound DS- concentration (Cb) could be evaluated with ease over the SDS concentration range above the cac. The aggregation number of DS- aggregates for both the above polymers was evaluated from the fluorescence quenching method using the values of Cf and Cb from the potentiometric method. Because Cf in the SDS/PQ-10 system above the cac did not maintain a constant value contrary to that in the SDS/PDADMAC system but increased quite a lot, Cb should not be regarded as [SDS] - cac above the cac. The aggregation number in the SDS/PQ-10 system increased almost linearly with increasing total concentration of SDS, while that in the SDS/PDADMAC system reached a plateau. With increasing temperature, the aggregation number of the SDS/PDADMAC system decreased more rapidly than that of the SDS/PQ-10 system.

Hair loss by excessive stress from work and lifestyle changes has become a growing concern, particularly among young individuals. However, most drugs for alopecia impose a plethora of side effects. We have found the powerful impact of Malva verticillata seed extracts on alleviating hair loss. This study further isolated effective chemicals in M. verticillata seed extracts by liquid silica gel column chromatography. Under the screening for the growth rate (%) of human follicles dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs), we identified linoleic acid (LA) and oleic acid in n-hexane of M. verticillate (MH)2 fraction. LA treatment activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and induced HFDPCs growth by increasing the expression of cell cycle proteins such as cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. LA treatment also increased several growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, hepatocyte growth factor, and keratinocyte growth factor, in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, LA significantly inhibited Dickkopf-related protein expression (DKK-1), a primary alopecia signaling by dihydrotestosterone. Our findings suggest that LA treatment may alleviate a testosterone-induced signaling molecule and induces HFDPCs growth by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

An investigation was made into the binding of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to a cationic polymer of high charge density, the homopolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC), in 1 mM (1 M = 1 mol dm−3) NaCl solution using a potentiometric titration method utilizing a surfactant-selective electrode at 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 45 °C. The concentrations of PDADMAC examined were 100, 200, and 400 ppm. SDS ions bound very cooperatively to the PDADMAC polymer. Variation of the polymer concentration had almost no effect on the binding parameters at the same temperature, while increasing the temperature had a large effect on the binding system at the same polymer concentration. The intrinsic binding constant (K) and the critical aggregation concentration (cac) decreased and then increased with increasing temperature, having minimum values of 17.9 × 10−2 mM−1 and 0.19 × 10−2 mM at 25 °C, respectively. However, the cooperativity parameter (u) and the binding affinity (uK) had a maximum value of 20.0 × 102 and 357 at the same temperature, respectively. The polymer-concentration-independence of the binding parameters for the anionic surfactant (SDS) to the cationic polymer (PDADMAC) corresponds to the binding of a cationic surfactant to an anionic polymer, and the maximum in the binding affinity at 25 °C is quite similar to the binding of a cationic surfactant to an anionic polymer, and also to the micellization of ionic surfactants having a minimum cmc value at 25 °C.

The solubilization property of the aggregate composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a cationic polymer (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, PDADMAC) was investigated. From the binding isotherm, the increasing free SDS concentration (Cf) above the critical aggregation concentration (cac) was clearly confirmed and used to calculate the Gibbs free energy change of solubilization. The maximum additive concentration of the alkylbenzene solubilizates remained almost constant around their aqueous solubilities below the cac and then increased with increasing SDS concentration above the cac and with decreasing alkyl chain length of the solubilizates. Also, their solubility increased with increasing temperature over the concentration range of the surfactant examined. Because the monomeric DS- concentration in the aqueous phase (Cf) increased with the SDS concentration above the cac in the SDS/PDADMAC system, Cf was evaluated from the binding isotherm to calculate the change in the Gibbs energies of transfer of the solubilizates using the phase separation model. The Gibbs energy change for the solubilizates decreased with increasing temperature and increasing alkyl chain length. The decrease in the Gibbs energy per CH2 group (DeltaGCH2 degrees) was favored by an increase of temperature, and it was larger in magnitude than that for micelles of single-surfactant systems. From the values of DeltaH degrees and TDeltaS degrees, the solubilization of alkylbenzenes into SDS/PDADMAC was found to be entropy-driven.

Rationale: cAMP up-regulates microphthalmia-associated transcription factor subtype M (MITF-M) and tyrosinase (Tyro) in the generation of heavily pigmented melanosomes. Here, we communicate a therapeutic mechanism of hyperpigmented disorder by α-viniferin, an active constituent of Caragana sinica.Methods: We used cAMP-elevated melanocyte cultures or facial hyperpigmented patches for pigmentation assays, and applied immunoprecipitation, immunobloting, RT-PCR or reporter gene for elucidation of the antimelanogenic mechanism.Results: C. sinica or α-viniferin inhibited melanin production in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-, histamine- or cell-permeable cAMP-activated melanocyte cultures. Moreover, topical application with C. sinica containing α-viniferin, a standard in quality control, decreased melanin index on facial melasma and freckles in patients. As a molecular basis, α-viniferin accelerated protein kinase A (PKA) inactivation via the reassociation between catalytic and regulatory subunits in cAMP-elevated melanocytes, a feedback loop in the melanogenic process. α-Viniferin resultantly inhibited cAMP/PKA-signaled phosphorylation of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) coupled with dephosphorylation of cAMP-regulated transcriptional co-activator 1 (CRTC1), thus down-regulating expression of MITF-M or Tyro gene with decreased melanin pigmentation.Conclusion: This study assigned PKA inactivation, a feedback termination in cAMP-induced facultative melanogenesis, as a putative target of α-viniferin in the treatment of melanocyte-specific hyperpigmented disorder. Finally, C. sinica containing α-viniferin was approved as an antimelanogenic agent with topical application in skin hyperpigmentation.