Effects of Decursin and Angelica gigas Nakai Root Extract on Hair Growth in Mouse Dorsal Skin via Regulating Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract

This current study investigates the facilitative effects and mechanisms of decursin, a major component of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN), and AGN root extract on hair growth in mice. We perform high-performance liquid chromatography on AGN extract to show it contains 7.3% decursin. Hairs in mouse dorsal skin are shaved distilled in water, 0.15% decursin, and 2% AGN root extract (0.15% decursin in the diluted extract) and topically applied twice a day for 17 days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining are done to examine the morphological changes in the hair follicles. To compare the effects of decursin and AGN extract on inflammatory cytokines in the dorsal skin, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and IL-4 and IL-13 as anti-inflammatory cytokines are conducted. The results show that the application of decursin and AGN extract confer effects on hair growth. Hair growth is significantly facilitated from seven days after the treatments compared to that in the control group, and completely grown hair was found 17 days after the treatments. The protein levels and immunoreactivity of TNF-α and IL-1β in this case are significantly decreased, whereas the IL-4 and IL-13 levels and immunoreactivity are significantly increased compared to those in the control group. Additionally, high-mobility group box 1, an inflammatory mediator, is elevated by the topical application of decursin and AGN extract. Taken together, the treatment of mouse dorsal skin with AGE root extract containing decursin promotes hair growth by regulating pro- and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines. We, therefore, suggest that AGN root extract as well as decursin can be utilized as materials for developing hair growth-facilitating treatments.

Therapeutic Effects of Decursin and Angelica gigas Nakai Root Extract in Gerbil Brain after Transient Ischemia via Protecting BBB Leakage and Astrocyte Endfeet Damage

“…No., CFN9859; Wuhan, China). As described previously [ 20 ], AGNE was manufactured by KGC Yebon Co Ltd. (Chungju, Chungbuk, Korea) with a standardized extracting process. AGN were farmed in Chuncheon (Gangwon, Korea), and their roots were collected and washed with pure water followed by dehydration.…”

“…High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was done to qualitatively analyze the AGNE according to a method by Lee et al (2020) [ 20 ]. In short, decursin (0.01 g for standard sample) and AGNE (1 g for test sample) were respectively dissolved in 50 mL of methanol solution (50% v/v ; in distilled water).…”

“…The ingredients of AGN root extract (AGNE) have been well determined, as tabulated in Table 1 [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Among them, decursin, a coumarin derivative compound ( Figure 1 ), is regarded as a major effective ingredient of AGNE and possesses advantageous attributes including anti-inflammatory activity, anti-glioblastoma activity, and neuroprotective effects [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Especially, for neuroprotection in ischemic brains, AGNE shows a neuroprotective effect via regulating angiogenesis in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia, which is induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery [ 22 ].…”

Network Pharmacology Study and Experimental Confirmation Revealing the Ameliorative Effects of Decursin on Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

“…From Day 9 to Day 16, 100 µL of 1, 10, and 100 µM of Decursin in saline containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, were topically treated to shaved dorsal skin, once a day. An amount of 0.1% DEX, as a positive control, was topically administered to the depilated region on Days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 to 16 [14]. CTR and CYP groups received normal saline during the experiment.…”

“…In our previous study, the root of Angelica sinensis inhibited apoptosis-derived catagen regression, inducing hair regrowth in depilated mice [13]. Additionally, Decursin and A. gigas root extract promoted hair growth by regulating pro-and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice [14]. Recently, network pharmacology has been used to estimate the complicated association with drugs and diseases in in silico level.…”