The water-soluble extract of Illicium anisatum stimulates mouse vibrissae follicles in organ culture.
It is well known that reduced blood flow in the scalp is a cause of alopecia. We have shown previously that the extract of Illicium anisatum increases subcutaneous blood flow in mice. In the present study, we used an organ culture system to examine whether this extract promoted hair follicle elongation. B6C3HF1 mouse vibrissae follicles were cultured in serum-free medium for 7 days at 31 degrees C. Follicles treated with water-soluble (WS) extracts of the leaves, fruits and roots of Illicium anisatum or shikimic acid grew significantly longer than controls. In contrast, ethyl acetate-soluble (AS) extracts and n-hexane-soluble (HS) extracts of the leaves, fruits and roots of the plant inhibited hair follicles and shaft growth. Fractionation of the WS fruit extract showed that the number 1 and number 2 fractions possessed hair follicle elongation activity. GC/MS analysis revealed that the number 1 fraction contained shikimic acid, and that the number 2 fraction was a mixture of many components including glycosides and polysaccharides. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that shikimic acid also induced mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-1, keratinocyte growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the hair follicles. These results suggest that the WS extract of Illicium anisatum promotes hair growth and may be a useful additive in hair growth products.
Sakaguchi
Ikuyo
I
Research & Development Division, Club Cosmetics Co., Ltd, Ikoma-shi, Nara 630-0222, Japan. ikuyos@clubcosmetics.co.jp
Ishimoto
Hiroko
H
Matsuo
Masaki
M
Ikeda
Norikazu
N
Minamino
Miki
M
Kato
Yoshiko
Y
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry; D006586:Hexanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D029523:Illicium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012765:Shikimic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012997:Solvents / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D000085:Acetates; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; C496454:Fgf7 protein, mouse; D006027:Glycosides; D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D012765:Shikimic Acid; C026385:n-hexane; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C007650:ethyl acetate