Polygonum multiflorum extract support hair growth by elongating anagen phase and abrogating the effect of androgen in cultured human dermal papilla cells

Abstract

Background: Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) play a key role in hair growth among the various cell types in hair follicles. Especially, DPCs determine the fate of hair follicle such as anagen to telogen transition and play a pivotal role in androgenic alopecia (AGA). This study was performed to elucidate the hair growth promoting effects of Polygonum multiflorum extract (PM extract) in cultured human DPCs and its underlying mechanisms. Methods:The effects of PM extract on cultured DPCs were investigated. Cell viability and mitochondrial activity were measured by CCK-8 and JC-1 analysis, respectively. Western blotting, dot blotting, ELISA analysis, immunocytochemistry and real-time PCR analysis were also performed to elucidate the changes in protein and mRNA levels induced by PM extract. 3D cultured DPC spheroids were constructed for mimicking the in vivo DPs. The hair growth stimulatory effect of PM extract was evaluated using human hair follicle organ culture model. Results: PM extract increased the viability and mitochondrial activity in cultured human DPCs in a dose dependent manner. The expression of Bcl2, an anti-apoptotic protein expressed dominantly in anagen was significantly increased and that of BAD, a pro-apoptotic protein expressed in early catagen was decreased by PM extract in cultured DPCs and/or 3D DPC spheroid culture. PM extract also decreased the expression of catagen inducing protein, Dkk-1. Growth factors including IGFBP2, PDGF and VEGF were increased by PM extract, revealed by dot blot protein analysis. We also have found that PM extract could reverse the androgenic effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the most potent androgen. Finally, PM extract prolonged the anagen of human hair follicles by inhibiting catagen entry in human hair follicle organ culture model. Conclusion:Our data strongly suggest that PM extract could promote hair growth by elongating the anagen and/ or delaying the catagen induction of hair follicles through activation of DPCs.

Modulation of Hair Growth Promoting Effect by Natural Products

“…Quercitrin administration resulted in a decrease in mRNA expression of Bad, although the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 increased after treatment of cultured hDPCs with 10 nM and 100 nM quercitrin [23]. PM extract also showed an increase in Bcl-2 mRNA expression and a decrease in Bad expression in hDPCs [30]. Panax ginseng extract inhibited apoptosis in Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1)-induced ORS keratinocytes as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining [56].…”

“…2,3,5,4-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-D-glucoside (TSG), a major component of PM, induces new hair growth in C57BL/6J mice [113]. Additionally, Shin et al, observed that PM extract (20 µg/mL) increased IGFBP2, PDGF, and VEGF expression in cultured hDPCs [30]. Alnus sibirica Fisch.…”

Ultrasonic Solvent Extraction Followed by Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction (d-SPE) Cleanup for the Simultaneous Determination of Five Anthraquinones in Polygonum multiflorum by UHPLC-PDA

“…Polygonum multiflorum, usually known as "Heshouwu" in China and "Foti" in North America and East Asia, is a perennial vine-like herb of the family Polygonaceae, and it was officially listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and noted 1200 years ago, in the Tang dynasty, for its medicinal values [1]. To date, numerous pharmacological studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the biological activities of Polygonum multiflorum, including hair blackening activities, memory improvement, mitigation against other dysfunctions, anti-tumor activities, anti-inflammatory activities, anti-oxidation activities, anti-aging activities, lipid-lowering activities, immune regulation, and so on [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Therefore, it has been widely used not only as a medicine, but also as a popular tonic food and beverage in Asia and many other countries as a result of the general population's growing interests in phytonutrients and alternative medicines in recent decades [8].…”

Morus alba Root Extract Induces the Anagen Phase in the Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells

“…A similar effect was observed in HFDPCs treated with the Hottuynia cordata extract. The expression of PDGF-AA and VEGF is increased by the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) [20,21].…”