Promotion Effect of Apo-9′-fucoxanthinone from <i>Sargassum muticum</i> on Hair Growth <i>via</i> the Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and VEGF-R2

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Sargassum muticum extract and apo-9′-fucoxanthinone, a principal component of S. muticum, on hair growth. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with S. muticum extract for 21 d, the hair-fiber lengths for the vibrissa follicles increased significantly. Treatment with the S. muticum extract and the EtOAc fraction of the S. muticum extract markedly increased the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and decreased the 5α-reductase activity. In addition, the EtOAc fraction of the S. muticum extract significantly promoted anagen initiation in C57BL/6 mice. Especially, apo-9′-fucoxanthinone, an active constituent from the S. muticum extract, caused an increase in DPC proliferation and a decrease in 5α-reductase activity. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of apo-9′-fucoxanthinone on the proliferation of DPCs, we examined the level of various signaling proteins. Apo-9′-fucoxanthinone increased the level of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGF-R2), Wnt/β-catenin signaling proteins such as phospho(ser9)-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and phospho(ser552)-β-catenin, whereas apo-9′-fucoxanthinone did not affect the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling proteins such as Smad2/3. These results suggest that apo-9′-fucoxanthinone from S. muticum could have the potential for hair growth with DPC proliferation via the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the VEGF-R2 pathway.

Undariopsis peterseniana Promotes Hair Growth by the Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and ERK Pathways

“…These results indicated that U. peterseniana extract had the potential to increase cell proliferation by opening the K ATP channels. Apo-9′-fucoxanthinone was found to be a principal of both the U. peterseniana extract and Sargassum muticum extract [31,32]. Nevertheless, on the proliferation of NIH3T3 fibroblast via the opening of K ATP channel, U. peterseniana extract (1 and 10 µg/mL) significantly increased the proliferation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts, whereas apo-9′-fucoxanthinone could not change that (data not shown).…”

“…In this study, U. peterseniana extract displayed an inhibitory effect on 5α-reductase activity, which suggested that U. peterseniana extract has the potential to prevent androgenetic alopecia by the inhibition of 5α-reductase activity. Apo-9′-fucoxanthinone, a principal compound of brown algae including U. peterseniana , has also been shown to inhibit 5α-reductase activity (Figure 6) [31,32]. …”

“…Except for the results of the length of hair-fiber in culture of HF, the other results showed that the U. peterseniana extract (10 μg/mL) exhibited significant effects. According to our previous research [32], a possible explanation for this was as follows: in the experiment on the culture of HF, the culture medium containing U. peterseniana extract was changed every 3 days, and this practice was continued for 21 days. Therefore, the effective concentration was lower than expected, because U. peterseniana extract and its metabolites were concentrated in HF.…”

“…Our study revealed that U. peterseniana extract enhanced the levels of phosphorylation of GSK-3β at ser9 and phosphorylation of β-catenin at ser552, 675 in dermal papilla cells. Apo-9'-fucoxanthinone, an active compound of U. peterseniana , was reported to increase the levels of phosphorylation of GSK-3β at ser9 and phosphorylation of β-catenin at ser552 [32]. The Wnt/β-catenin activation by U. peterseniana extract and apo-9′-fucoxanthinone is involved in the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.…”

Degradation of Fucoxanthin to Elucidate the Relationship between the Fucoxanthin Molecular Structure and Its Antiproliferative Effect on Caco-2 Cells

“…Although the activity of apo-13-fucoxanthinone ( 2 ) has not been studied extensively, the activity of apo-9′-fucoxanthinone ( 3 ) has recently drawn attention. For example, anti-inflammatory effects [32,33,34] and hair growth effects [35] have been reported. Detailed examination of the fucoxanthin when decomposed will lead to the discovery of new activity of the degradation products.…”