Herbal Extracts Induce Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation of Human Hair Follicles

BACKGROUND: The number of people suffering from balding or hair thinning is increasing, despite the advances in various medical therapies. Therefore, it is highly important to develop new therapies to inhibit balding and increase hair proliferation. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of herbal extracts commonly used for improving balding in traditional medicine to identify potential agents for hair proliferation. METHODS: The expression levels of 5alpha-reductase isoforms (type I and II) were analyzed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the human follicular dermal papilla cells (DPCs). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylteterazolium bromide and bromodeoxyuridine tests were used to evaluate the cell proliferation effect of herbal extracts in DPCs. The expression levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Akt, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured using western blot analysis. RESULTS: The 5alpha-reductase isoform mRNAs and proteins were detected in the cultured DPCs, and the expression level of 5alpha-R2 in DPCs in the presence of the herbal extracts was gradually decreased. Herbal extracts were found to significantly increase the proliferation of human DPCs at concentrations ranging from 1.5% to 4.5%. These results show that the herbal extracts tested affected the protein expressions of ERK, Akt, cyclin D1, Cdk4, Bcl-2, and Bax in DPCs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that herbal extracts exert positive effects on hair proliferation via ERK, Akt, cyclin D1, and Cdk4 signaling in DPCs; they also suggest that herbal extracts could be a great alternative therapy for increasing hair proliferation.

Toxicity effect of silver nanoparticles on mice liver primary cell culture and HepG2 cell line

Nano-silver [AgNP] has biological properties which are significant for consumer products, food technology, textiles and medical applications [e.g. wound care products, implantable medical devices, in diagnosis, drug delivery, and imaging]. For their antibacterial activity, silver nanoparticles are largely used in various commercially available products. Thus, the use of nano-silver is becoming more and more widespread in medicine. In this study we investigated the cytotoxic effects of AgNPs on liver primary cells of mice, as well as the human liver HepG[2] cell. Cell viability was examined with MTT assay after HepG[2] cells exposure to AgNPs at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10 ppm compared to mice primary liver cells at 1, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400 ppm for 24h. AgNPs caused a concentration-dependent decrease of cell viability in both cells. IC50 value of 2.764 ppm [Micro g/ml] was calculated in HepG[2] cell line and IC[50] value of 121.7 ppm [Micro g/ml] was calculated in primary liver cells of mice. The results of this experiment indicated that silver nanoparticles had cytotoxic effects on HepG[2] cell line and primary liver cells of mice. The results illustrated that nano-silver had 44 times stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of cancerous cells [HepG[2] cell line] compared to the normal cells [primary liver cells of mice]. which might further justify AgNPs as a cytotoxic agents and a potential anticancer candidate which needs further studies in this regard

Using biochemical findings to study the effect of silymarin on the liver of pregnant rat that consumed ethanol

In pregnancy period, there is high risk of hepatic diseases and alcohol consumption increases such risk. Some pregnant mothers are not able to quit the habit of drinking alcohol or they are unaware of its dangers. Finding a drug which is effective and efficient in reducing ethanol misuse consequences during pregnancy can assist the decrease of harmful effects of this habit. The purpose of the current research is to investigate the effects of oral administration of silymarin in preventing consequences of ethanol consumption on the liver during pregnancy, using the rat animal model as well as biochemical findings and clinical symptoms. 45 female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, each composed of 15 rats. After the first day of pregnancy, the study was performed as follows. The first group received distilled water. The second group was given ethanol equivalent to 35% of their total required calorie. Furthermore, the third group received the same amount of ethanol plus 200 mg/kg silymarin. In order to evaluate liver's activity, biochemical analysis was performed at days 1, 7, 14, and 21, to measure the amount of the enzymes ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin. The nutrition and clinical status of animal in the groups was studied and recorded 2 times daily. This study showed that silymarin's protective effects are expressed from the first day of treatment