Moon-Jeong Rang

The hair growth promoting effect of Sophora flavescens extract and its molecular regulation

In search of natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Sophora flavescens has outstanding hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of Sophora flavescens extract onto the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen was induced. The growth of dermal papilla cells cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by Sophora flavescens extract treatment. RT-PCR analysis showed that Sophora flavescens extract induced mRNA levels of growth factors such as IGF-1 and KGF in dermal papilla cells, suggesting that the effects of Sophora flavescens extract on hair growth may be mediated through the regulation of growth factors in dermal papilla cells. In addition, the Sophora flavescens extract revealed to possess potent inhibitory effect on the type II 5alpha-reductase activity. Taken together, these results suggest that Sophora flavescens extract has hair growth promoting potential and can be used for hair growing products.

Minoxidil-Containing Dosage Forms: Skin Retention and After-Rinsing Hair-Growth Promotion

Three kinds of topical dosage forms of minoxidil (MXD), namely vesicles, double emulsions, and an inclusion complex with hydoxypropyl- β-cyclodextrin (HP- β-CD), were prepared. The skin retention of MXD in the preparations was evaluated in vitro using hairless mouse skins. After applying the preparations onto the skin and rinsing it, the amount of the drug left on the skin was determined using HPLC. Retention was the highest when the drug was encapsulated in cationic vesicles. Nonionic vehicle, the double emulsion, and HP- β-CD left no significant amount of the drug after rinsing the skin. Thus, an ionic interaction between the cationic vehicle and negatively charged skin is likely responsible for the relatively high skin retention. In vivo hair growth-promotion effect of each dosage form was investigated, in which the sample application onto the clipped backs of female mice (C57BL6) and the subsequent rinsing of the backs were done once a day for 30 days. Only MXD in the cationic vesicles had hair growth promotion effect, possibly due to significant skin retention.

Improving lip wrinkles: lipstick-related image analysis

Background/purpose: The appearance of lip wrinkles is problematic if it is adversely influenced by lipstick make‐up causing incomplete color tone, spread phenomenon and pigment remnants. It is mandatory to develop an objective assessment method for lip wrinkle status by which the potential of wrinkle‐improving products to lips can be screened. The present study is aimed at finding out the useful parameters from the image analysis of lip wrinkles that is affected by lipstick application.

Preparation and Characterization of Triclosan-Containing Microcapsules by Complex Coacervation

Microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation between gelatin (Type A) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Triclosan (TS) dissolved in octyl salicylate (OS) was used a core material and glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. The microcapsules on the scanning electron micrographs were spherical and exhibited core and shell morphology. The thermograms of freeze-dried microcapsules showed no evidence for the melting of TS, suggesting that TS remained dissolved in the cores of the microcapsules and did not exist as a crystalline solid even after the microcapsules were dried. Microelectrophoresis revealed that the point of zero charge of the microcapsules occured around pH 3.3, far below the isoelectric point of gelatin. This means that along with gelatin, CMC, a negatively charged polymer, constitutes the wall of microcapsules, decreasing the positive charges on the gelatin. The degree of release of TS and OS from the microcapsules in ethanol/water solvents was strongly dependent on the content of the alcohol, a good solvent for the core materials. No significant release was observed in ethanol/water (1/3, v/v) but the release was significant when the content of the alcohol increased.