Kyoichi Ogura

Effect of Plant Worm Extract on Mouse Hair Growth

Topical application of plant worm extract (Chinese drug, dong chong xia cao) caused a dose‐dependent acceleration of hair growth on the dorsal resting hair of shaved C3H mice. The original extract, which was extracted from 3 g of plant worm with 400 ml of 75% ethanol, and a 10‐fold concentrate were significantly effective in accelerating hair regrowth. Even a 100‐fold diluted extract shortened the anagen time of terminal hair growth. The hair regrowth activity of the extract was also highly significant when compared with two solutions containing some other effective ingredients for hair regrowth. The extract did not show any apparent acute toxicity in the mice. No mutagenicity was detected. No systemic or local side effects attributable to the plant worm extract were evident.