The hair growth promoting effect of Dansam-Samultang by focusing on the enzyme activity and molecular biological observation in C57BL/6 mice

This study aims to estimate the in vivo hair growth effects of Dansam-Samultang. A total of 40, six-week-old C57BL/ 6 male mice were classified into four groups (10 in each group): Control (C, distilled water), Positive control (PC, minoxidil 3%), Experimental 1 (E1, Dansam-Samultang ethanol extact 2%), and Experimental 2 (E2, Dansam-Samultang toner type 2%). Samples (150 ㎕) were applied percutaneously on the back, once a day, six days a week, for four weeks. Water and feed consumption, and body weight were measured once a week, in addition, macroscopic hair growth was observed once a week. On the second and fourth week, we took skin tissues after an autopsy, and measured the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) enzyme activity, and mRNA development of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). There were no significant differences among the groups in water and feed consumption, body weight gain, and feed efficiency. In a macroscopic observation, hair growth effects showed in order of PC, E1, E2, and C groups. Both ALP and γ-GT enzyme activity showed significant increase (p<0.05) for the PC, E1 and E2 groups, compared to the C group. In the mRNA gene expressions of hair growth factors, IGF-1 and VEGF, were significantly greater for the PC, E1 and E2, compared to that of the C group, but significantly lower (p<0.05) in the mRNA expression of inhibitory factor, TGF-β1. From these results, it is estimated that Dansam-Samultang has positive effects on hair growth or hair loss prevention.