Connarus semidecandrus Jack Exerts Anti-Alopecia Effects by Targeting 5α-Reductase Activity and an Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-06, Vol.27 (13), p.4086
• Main Authors: Jang, Won Young, Kim, Dong Seon, Park, Sang Hee, Yoon, Ji Hye, Shin, Chae Yun, Huang, Lei, Nang, Ket, Kry, Masphal, Byun, Hye-Woo, Lee, Byoung-Hee, Lee, Sarah, Lee, Jongsung, Cho, Jae Youl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-α reductase; Alopecia; androgen receptor; androgenic alopecia; anti-alopecia; Apoptosis; Baldness; Bcl-2 protein; Cell death; Cell proliferation; Connarus; Connarus semidecandrus Jack; Cytotoxicity; Ethanol; Fever; Follicles; Gene expression; Hair; Hair loss; Lymph nodes; mRNA; programmed cell-death; Prostate; Proteins; Reductases; Skin; Steroids; Testosterone; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Western blotting
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134086

There is a growing demand for hair loss treatments with minimal side effects and recurrence potential. Connarus semidecandrus Jack has been used as a folk medicine for fever in tropical regions, but its anti-alopecia effects remain unclear. In this study, the anti-androgenic alopecia effect of an ethanol extract of Connarus semidecandrus Jack (Cs-EE) was demonstrated in a testosterone-induced androgenic alopecia (AGA) model, in terms of the hair–skin ratio, hair type frequency, and hair thickness. The area of restored hair growth and thickened hair population after Cs-EE treatment showed the hair-growth-promoting effect of Cs-EE. Histological data support the possibility that Cs-EE could reduce hair loss and upregulate hair proliferation in mouse skin by shifting hair follicles from the catagen phase to the anagen phase. Western blotting indicated that Cs-EE reduced the expression of the androgenic receptor. Cs-EE treatment also inhibited programmed cell death by upregulating Bcl-2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. The anti-alopecia effect of Cs-EE was confirmed by in vitro experiments showing that Cs-EE had suppressive effects on 5-α reductase activity and lymph node carcinoma of the prostate proliferation, and a proliferative effect on human hair-follicle dermal papilla (HDP) cells. Apoptotic pathways in HDP cells were downregulated by Cs-EE treatment. Thus, Cs-EE could be a potential treatment for AGA.