Toxicol Res.  2013 Dec;29(4):241-247.

Action Mechanism of Chamaecyparis obtusa Oil on Hair Growth

• Park YO
• Kim SE
• Kim YC

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the action mechanism of Chamaecyparis obtusa oil (CO) on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. For alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) activities in the skin tissue, at week 4, the 3% minoxidil (MXD) and 3% CO treatment groups showed an ALP activity that was significantly higher by 85% (p < 0.001) and 48% (p < 0.05) and an gamma-GT activity that was significantly higher by 294% (p < 0.01) and 254% (p < 0.05) respectively, as compared to the saline (SA) treatment group. For insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA expression in the skin tissue, at week 4, the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly higher expression by 204% (p < 0.05) and 426% (p < 0.01) respectively, as compared to the SA group. At week 4, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly higher expression by 74% and 96% (p < 0.05) respectively, however, epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly lower expression by 66% and 61% (p < 0.05) respectively, as compared to the SA group. Stem cell factor (SCF) expression in the MXD and CO groups was observed by immunohistochemistry as significant in a part of the bulge around the hair follicle and in a part of the basal layer of the epidermis. Taking all the results together, on the basis of effects on ALP and gamma-GT activity, and the expression of IGF-1, VEGF and SCF, which are related to the promotion of hair growth, it can be concluded that CO induced a proliferation and division of hair follicle cells and maintained the anagen phase. Because EGF expression was decreased significantly, CO could delay the transition to the catagen phase.

Keyword

Action mechanism; Anagen phase; C57BL/6 mice; Chamaecyparis obtusa oil; Hair growth

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase
Animals
Chamaecyparis*
Epidermal Growth Factor
Epidermis
gamma-Glutamyltransferase
Hair Follicle
Hair*
Immunohistochemistry
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Mice
Minoxidil
RNA, Messenger
Skin
Stem Cell Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Alkaline Phosphatase
Epidermal Growth Factor
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Minoxidil
RNA, Messenger
Stem Cell Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
gamma-Glutamyltransferase