Connarus semidecandrus Jack Exerts Anti-Alopecia Effects by Targeting 5α-Reductase Activity and an Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway.

Abstract

There is a growing demand for hair loss treatments with minimal side effects and recurrence potential. Connarus semidecandrus Jack has been used as a folk medicine for fever in tropical regions, but its anti-alopecia effects remain unclear. In this study, the anti-androgenic alopecia effect of an ethanol extract of Connarus semidecandrus Jack (Cs-EE) was demonstrated in a testosterone-induced androgenic alopecia (AGA) model, in terms of the hair-skin ratio, hair type frequency, and hair thickness. The area of restored hair growth and thickened hair population after Cs-EE treatment showed the hair-growth-promoting effect of Cs-EE. Histological data support the possibility that Cs-EE could reduce hair loss and upregulate hair proliferation in mouse skin by shifting hair follicles from the catagen phase to the anagen phase. Western blotting indicated that Cs-EE reduced the expression of the androgenic receptor. Cs-EE treatment also inhibited programmed cell death by upregulating Bcl-2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. The anti-alopecia effect of Cs-EE was confirmed by in vitro experiments showing that Cs-EE had suppressive effects on 5-α reductase activity and lymph node carcinoma of the prostate proliferation, and a proliferative effect on human hair-follicle dermal papilla (HDP) cells. Apoptotic pathways in HDP cells were downregulated by Cs-EE treatment. Thus, Cs-EE could be a potential treatment for AGA.

• Authors: Won Young Jang, Dong Seon Kim, Sang Hee Park, Ji Hye Yoon, Chae Yun Shin, Lei Huang, Ket Nang, Masphal Kry, Hye-Woo Byun, Byoung-Hee Lee, Sarah Lee, Jongsung Lee, Jae Youl Cho
• Journal: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (Molecules) Vol. 27 Issue 13 (Jun 24 2022) ISSN: 1420-3049 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 35807332 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase

Topics

• Alopecia (chemically induced)
• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase
• Connaraceae
• Hair Follicle
• Male
• Mice