title: In vivo hair growth-stimulating effect of medicinal plant extract on BALB/c nude mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (Asteraceae) (CZ) and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (Polygonaceae) (PM) have been used traditionally to treat different systemic diseases and acclaimed for various biological activities including hair growth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the hair restoration efficacy of selected medicinal plant extracts on nude mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nude mice genetically predisposed to pattern balding were used in this study. Topical methanol extracts of CZ and PM (10 mg/mouse/d) with standardized vehicle formulation, only vehicle (propylene glycol:ethanol:dimethyl sulfoxide, 67:30:3% v/v) and Minoxidil (2%) were applied daily for 40 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, the maximum hair score (2.5 ± 0.29) was obtained in the CZ-treated group. Histological observation revealed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the number of hair follicles (HF) in CZ-treated mice (58.66 ± 3.72) and Minoxidil-treated mice (40 ± 2.71). Subsequently, immunohistochemical analysis also confirmed the follicular keratinocyte proliferation by detection of BrdU-labeling, S-phase cells in Minoxidil and CZ-treated mouse follicular bulb and outer root sheaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed the underlying mechanism of stimulating hair growth in athymic nude mice by repair the nu/nu follicular keratin differentiation defect. Thus, the topical application of CZ may represent a novel strategy for the management and therapy of certain forms of alopecia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University , Daejeon , South Korea.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Mi-Ra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Md Jamil
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Yun-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chang Keun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D031202:Chrysanthemum; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D019664:Polygonaceae; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: BrdU; Chrysanthemum zawadskii; hair follicle; proliferation