title: Protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng against chemotherapeutic drug-induced premature catagen development assessed with human hair follicle organ culture model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the most distressing side effects for patients undergoing chemotherapy. This study evaluated the protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on CIA in a well-established in vitro human hair follicle organ culture model as it occurs in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined whether KRG can prevent premature hair follicle dystrophy in a human hair follicle organ culture model during treatment with a key cyclophosphamide metabolite, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  4-HC inhibited human hair growth, induced premature catagen development, and inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of hair matrix keratinocytes. In addition, 4-HC increased p53 and Bax protein expression and decreased Bcl2 protein expression. Pretreatment with KRG protected against 4-HC-induced hair growth inhibition and premature catagen development. KRG also suppressed 4-HC-induced inhibition of matrix keratinocyte proliferation and stimulation of matrix keratinocyte apoptosis. Moreover, KRG restored 4-HC-induced p53 and Bax/Bcl2 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our results indicate that KRG may protect against 4-HC-induced premature catagen development through modulation of p53 and Bax/Bcl2 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Institute of Hair and Cosmetic Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong In
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Keum
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Long-Quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: Dr. Hwang's Hair-Hair Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungjoo Tommy
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Institute of Hair and Cosmetic Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Soo
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Korean Red Ginseng; alopecia; chemotherapy; hair growth