Was doing a little research today and came across some topics which have been discussed recently on the boards. I know most of this is not new, but thought some people might appreciate the references.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume 112 Issue 3 Page 310 - March 1999
Procyanidin Oligomers Selectively and Intensively Promote Proliferation of Mouse Hair Epithelial Cells In Vitro and Activate Hair Follicle Growth In Vivo, Tomoya Takahashi, Toshikazu Kamiya, Atsuhiro Hasegawa, and Yoshiharu Yokoo
We have previously reported that proanthocyanidins extracted from grape
seeds possess growth-promoting activity toward murine hair epithelial cells
in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in hair cycle progression in vivo.
This report constitutes a comparison of the growth-promoting activity of
procyanidin oligomers and the target cells of procyanidins in the skin.
Results show that procyanidin dimer and trimer exhibit higher
growth-promoting activity than the monomer. The maximum growth-promoting activity for hair epithelial cells with procyanidin B-2, an epicatechin dimer, reached about 300% (30 M). No other flavonoid compounds examined exhibit higher proliferative activities than the procyanidins. In skin constituent cells, only epithelial cells such as hair keratinocytes or epidermal keratinocytes respond to procyanidin oligomers. Topical application of 1% procyanidin oligomers on shaven C3H mice in the telogen phase led to significant hair regeneration [procyanidin B-2, 69.6% ± 21.8% (mean ± SD); procyanidin B-3, 80.9% ± 13.0%; procyanidin C-1, 78.3% ± 7.6%] on the basis of the shaven area; application of vehicle only led to regeneration of 41.7% (SD = 16.3%). In this paper, we demonstrate the hair-growing activity of procyanidin oligomers both in vitro and in vivo, and their potential for use as agents to induce hair growth.
The conclusion:
Potential for the use of procyanidins as agents inducing hair growth We have demonstrated that procyanidin oligomers possess both hair epithelial cell growth-promoting activity and hair-growing activity to induce anagen phase in vivo. The mechanism of androgenetic alopecia is now speculative.
Androgenetic alopecia is defined as "vellus transformation" ( van Scott &
Ekel 1958. For the mechanism of the action of minoxidil, no hormonal effect, but the direct effect on the follicular epithelium has been confirmed ( Kulick 1988); (Olsen 1989). It is reported that minoxidil induces a significant shortening of the telogen phase ( Uno et al. 1985); (Mori & Uno 1990). It is thus possible to assume that procyanidin oligomers, which directly affect hair epithelial cell growth and stimulate anagen induction in vivo, will be effective for curing androgenetic alopecia. We have already performed toxicologic studies ( Takahashi et al. 1999) and a human pilot clinical study using procyanidin B-2, and confirmed that it is safe enough for topical use of procyanidin B-2 and effectiveness in curing androgenetic alopecia.3 We are now improving the industrial process for manufacturing procyanidin oligomers, and are planning a large-scale human clinical test.
Some more research, A relatively new target for therapeutic intervention??
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume 8 Issue 1 Page 65 - June 2003
doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12173.x
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A Potential Suppressor of TGF- Delays Catagen Progression in Hair ollicles
Yumiko Tsuji * , Sumiko Denda * , Tsutomu Soma * , Laurel Raftery, Takashi Momoi and Toshihiko Hibino *
TGF- plays important roles in the induction of catagen during the hair
cycle. We examined whether TGF-2 could activate a caspase in human hair
follicles. Using active caspase-9 and -3 specific antibodies, we found that
TGF-2 activated these caspases in two regions, the lower part of the hair
bulb and the outer layer of the outer root sheath. In addition, we searched
for a plant extract that can effectively suppress TGF- action. We found that
an extract of Hydrangea macrophylla reduced synthesis of a TGD-inducible
protein. We confirmed that the extract has a potential to promote hair
elongation in the organ culture system. Furthermore, it delayed in vivo
progression of catagen in a mouse model. Our results suggest that the
induction of catagen by TGF- is mediated via activation of caspases and that a suppressor of TGF- could be effective in preventing male pattern baldness.
Oh yeah, one other thing i found interesting... demonstrates that environment/nutrition may play a large role in male pattern baldness
Dermatologic Surgery
Volume 28 Issue 9 Page 804 - September 2002
A Random Study of Asian Male Androgenetic Alopecia in Bangkok, Thailand Damkerng Pathomvanich, MD, FACS, Suradej Pongratananukul, MD, Patcharee Thienthaworn, RN, and Solunya Manoshai, RN
background.Androgenetic alopecia remains the most common cause of male pattern baldness (male pattern baldness) in all races. The prevalence of male pattern baldness in Caucasians is well documented. The prevalence of male pattern baldness in Asians is believed to be very low, only one-fourth to one-third on average compared to Caucasians. However, according to my previous study, there is a clear trend indicating that it is approaching that of Caucasians.
objective.To assess the prevalence of male pattern baldness in the Asian population in Bangkok, Thailand; to compare this prevalence to previous studies conducted on Asians; and to compare the results to previous studies conducted on Caucasian.
methods.This study was conducted by two physicians and assisted by two registered nurses. The questionnaire included age, sex, Norwood
classification, diet, family history of baldness, income, and education. The
physicians examined the scalp of each interviewee upon completion of each questionnaire. The ethnic focus group in this study was Thai and Chinese who reside in Bangkok, Thailand. The interviews were conducted in hospitals, nursing homes, classroom, medical meetings, temples, parks, and villages.
results.A total of 1124 men were randomized in this study. The prevalence of cosmetically significant male pattern baldness (Norwood III-VII) was 38.52% and steadily increasing with age, approaching that of Caucasians. Variant male pattern baldness was found to be 0.67% and other types of androgenetic alopecia was 0.6%. From an ethnic point of view, the majority of the groups were of mixed blood and mostly of Chinese origin, thus we were unable to distinguish between Chinese and Thai.
conclusion.This study shows that the prevalence of male pattern baldness in Asians is not as low as previously thought. The cause of this increasing prevalence is uncertain. There are no past studies in Thailand for comparison, however, it can be extrapolated that the socioeconomic environment and westernized diet may contribute to this prevalence
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume 112 Issue 3 Page 310 - March 1999
Procyanidin Oligomers Selectively and Intensively Promote Proliferation of Mouse Hair Epithelial Cells In Vitro and Activate Hair Follicle Growth In Vivo, Tomoya Takahashi, Toshikazu Kamiya, Atsuhiro Hasegawa, and Yoshiharu Yokoo
We have previously reported that proanthocyanidins extracted from grape
seeds possess growth-promoting activity toward murine hair epithelial cells
in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in hair cycle progression in vivo.
This report constitutes a comparison of the growth-promoting activity of
procyanidin oligomers and the target cells of procyanidins in the skin.
Results show that procyanidin dimer and trimer exhibit higher
growth-promoting activity than the monomer. The maximum growth-promoting activity for hair epithelial cells with procyanidin B-2, an epicatechin dimer, reached about 300% (30 M). No other flavonoid compounds examined exhibit higher proliferative activities than the procyanidins. In skin constituent cells, only epithelial cells such as hair keratinocytes or epidermal keratinocytes respond to procyanidin oligomers. Topical application of 1% procyanidin oligomers on shaven C3H mice in the telogen phase led to significant hair regeneration [procyanidin B-2, 69.6% ± 21.8% (mean ± SD); procyanidin B-3, 80.9% ± 13.0%; procyanidin C-1, 78.3% ± 7.6%] on the basis of the shaven area; application of vehicle only led to regeneration of 41.7% (SD = 16.3%). In this paper, we demonstrate the hair-growing activity of procyanidin oligomers both in vitro and in vivo, and their potential for use as agents to induce hair growth.
The conclusion:
Potential for the use of procyanidins as agents inducing hair growth We have demonstrated that procyanidin oligomers possess both hair epithelial cell growth-promoting activity and hair-growing activity to induce anagen phase in vivo. The mechanism of androgenetic alopecia is now speculative.
Androgenetic alopecia is defined as "vellus transformation" ( van Scott &
Ekel 1958. For the mechanism of the action of minoxidil, no hormonal effect, but the direct effect on the follicular epithelium has been confirmed ( Kulick 1988); (Olsen 1989). It is reported that minoxidil induces a significant shortening of the telogen phase ( Uno et al. 1985); (Mori & Uno 1990). It is thus possible to assume that procyanidin oligomers, which directly affect hair epithelial cell growth and stimulate anagen induction in vivo, will be effective for curing androgenetic alopecia. We have already performed toxicologic studies ( Takahashi et al. 1999) and a human pilot clinical study using procyanidin B-2, and confirmed that it is safe enough for topical use of procyanidin B-2 and effectiveness in curing androgenetic alopecia.3 We are now improving the industrial process for manufacturing procyanidin oligomers, and are planning a large-scale human clinical test.
Some more research, A relatively new target for therapeutic intervention??
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume 8 Issue 1 Page 65 - June 2003
doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12173.x
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A Potential Suppressor of TGF- Delays Catagen Progression in Hair ollicles
Yumiko Tsuji * , Sumiko Denda * , Tsutomu Soma * , Laurel Raftery, Takashi Momoi and Toshihiko Hibino *
TGF- plays important roles in the induction of catagen during the hair
cycle. We examined whether TGF-2 could activate a caspase in human hair
follicles. Using active caspase-9 and -3 specific antibodies, we found that
TGF-2 activated these caspases in two regions, the lower part of the hair
bulb and the outer layer of the outer root sheath. In addition, we searched
for a plant extract that can effectively suppress TGF- action. We found that
an extract of Hydrangea macrophylla reduced synthesis of a TGD-inducible
protein. We confirmed that the extract has a potential to promote hair
elongation in the organ culture system. Furthermore, it delayed in vivo
progression of catagen in a mouse model. Our results suggest that the
induction of catagen by TGF- is mediated via activation of caspases and that a suppressor of TGF- could be effective in preventing male pattern baldness.
Oh yeah, one other thing i found interesting... demonstrates that environment/nutrition may play a large role in male pattern baldness
Dermatologic Surgery
Volume 28 Issue 9 Page 804 - September 2002
A Random Study of Asian Male Androgenetic Alopecia in Bangkok, Thailand Damkerng Pathomvanich, MD, FACS, Suradej Pongratananukul, MD, Patcharee Thienthaworn, RN, and Solunya Manoshai, RN
background.Androgenetic alopecia remains the most common cause of male pattern baldness (male pattern baldness) in all races. The prevalence of male pattern baldness in Caucasians is well documented. The prevalence of male pattern baldness in Asians is believed to be very low, only one-fourth to one-third on average compared to Caucasians. However, according to my previous study, there is a clear trend indicating that it is approaching that of Caucasians.
objective.To assess the prevalence of male pattern baldness in the Asian population in Bangkok, Thailand; to compare this prevalence to previous studies conducted on Asians; and to compare the results to previous studies conducted on Caucasian.
methods.This study was conducted by two physicians and assisted by two registered nurses. The questionnaire included age, sex, Norwood
classification, diet, family history of baldness, income, and education. The
physicians examined the scalp of each interviewee upon completion of each questionnaire. The ethnic focus group in this study was Thai and Chinese who reside in Bangkok, Thailand. The interviews were conducted in hospitals, nursing homes, classroom, medical meetings, temples, parks, and villages.
results.A total of 1124 men were randomized in this study. The prevalence of cosmetically significant male pattern baldness (Norwood III-VII) was 38.52% and steadily increasing with age, approaching that of Caucasians. Variant male pattern baldness was found to be 0.67% and other types of androgenetic alopecia was 0.6%. From an ethnic point of view, the majority of the groups were of mixed blood and mostly of Chinese origin, thus we were unable to distinguish between Chinese and Thai.
conclusion.This study shows that the prevalence of male pattern baldness in Asians is not as low as previously thought. The cause of this increasing prevalence is uncertain. There are no past studies in Thailand for comparison, however, it can be extrapolated that the socioeconomic environment and westernized diet may contribute to this prevalence
Thats the downside of clinical trials. The average layperson has no idea what they've just read.