title: Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
abstract: Green tea is a popular worldwide beverage, and its potential beneficial effects such as anti-cancer and anti-oxidant properties are believed to be mediated by epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of polyphenols. Recently, it was reported that EGCG might be useful in the prevention or treatment of androgenetic alopecia by selectively inhibiting 5alpha-reductase activity. However, no report has been issued to date on the effect of EGCG on human hair growth. This study was undertaken to measure the effect of EGCG on hair growth in vitro and to investigate its effect on human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vivo and in vitro. EGCG promoted hair growth in hair follicles ex vivo culture and the proliferation of cultured DPCs. The growth stimulation of DPCs by EGCG in vitro may be mediated through the upregulations of phosphorylated Erk and Akt and by an increase in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Similar results were also obtained in in vivo dermal papillae of human scalps. Thus, we suggest that EGCG stimulates human hair growth through these dual proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on DPCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging and Hair Research, Seoul National University Hospital, Institute of Dermatological Science, Seoul National University, 110-744 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012535:Scalp; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013662:Tea; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate