title: Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract protects human foreskin melanocytes from oxidative stress in vitro and potentiates hair follicle pigmentation ex vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the ability of an extract from traditional Chinese medicine, Polygonum multiflorum Radix, to protect melanocyte viability from oxidative stress, a key mechanism in the initiation and progression of hair greying.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the antioxidant capacity of Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract, primary human foreskin melanocytes were treated with a commercially available Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract added to culture medium and exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), using intracellular reactive oxygen species concentrations and glutathione/protein ratios as endpoints. To improve solubility for cosmetic uses, a new Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract was derived. As hair greying is the consequence of melanocyte disappearance in an oxidative stress environment, we checked whether the antioxidant capacity of the new Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract could preserve melanocyte viability in response to H2O2-induced oxidative stress, and preserve pigmentation within ex vivo human hair follicles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro treatment of primary human foreskin melanocytes with traditional available Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract resulted in decreased intracellular ROS accumulation in response to H2O2exposure with a concomitant preservation of glutathione-to-protein ratio, consistent with a protective response against H2O2exposure and demonstrating the promise of this extract for protecting melanocytes against oxidative stress. Melanocytes treated with the improved Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract exhibited attenuated H2O2-induced cell death, demonstrating a clear cytoprotective effect. Treatment of ex vivo human hair follicles with the improved Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract resulted in a higher level of melanin compared to vehicle-treated controls, demonstrating an ex vivo protective effect on hair pigmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract protects in vitro primary human foreskin melanocytes from the deleterious effects of H2O2exposure and improves pigmentation within ex vivo human hair follicles, demonstrating the utility of Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract as a potential active ingredient for the protection of melanocytes against premature death. This data provides in vitro mechanistic evidence consistent with existing in vivo studies for the use of Polygonum multiflorum Radix extract as a strategy for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced hair greying, in line with traditional Polygonum multiflorum Radix uses.
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugene Schueller, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93601, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sextius
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Betts
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugene Schueller, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93601, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Benkhalifa
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugene Schueller, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93601, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Commo
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugene Schueller, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93601, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eilstein
authors.affiliation: Cutech Srl, Via San Marco, Padova, 9/M I-35129, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massironi
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugene Schueller, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93601, France.
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Michelet
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugene Schueller, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93601, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeulin
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068676:Fallopia multiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Polygonum multiflorum Radix; cell culture; formulation; hair treatment; oxidative stress