Hair growth promotion effect of Eucheuma cottonii extract containing hydroxydihydorobovolide

Abstract

Eucheuma cottonii, an edible species of pacific red algae, has a high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenol compounds. Previous studies have reported that intake of E. cottonii has antioxidant activity in hypercholesterolemic rat and wound healing and hair growth promoting activities in wounded SD rat. In this study, we evaluated the effects of E. cottonii on elongation of the human hair shaft in vitro and promotion of hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. Treatment with E. cottonii extract significantly increased the proliferation of human follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and outer root sheath (ORS) cells. It also stimulated hair shaft elongation in cultured human hair follicles. In addition, treatment with E. cottonii extract induced expression of growth factors in DPCs. Moreover, E. cottonii promoted induction of anagen phase from telogen phase of the hair shaft on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice. Following experiments with E. cottonii extract, an active compound has been isolated through bioactivity-lead isolation process. As a result, hydroxydihydrobovolide has been isolated and characterized from E. cottonii. All experiments were performed in same conditions using the isolated compound instead of the extract. Although activity of hydroxydihydrobovolide for hair growth was less than that with E. cottonii extract, bioactivity of hydroxoydihydrobovolide is evidently confirmed by proliferation of DPCs and ORS, expression of growth factors and in vivo test. Taken together, these results suggest that E. cottonii extract containing hydroxydihydrobovolide, promotes hair growth though stimulation of DPCs and ORS cells.