ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Eclipta prostrata L. (Asteraceae) (EP) has been widely used for the treatment of skin disease in Asian traditional medicine. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the potency of EP in promoting hair growth in vivo and in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups (n = 4) as follows: control (topical treatment of normal saline), topical 3% minoxidil to the dorsal skin of mice for 14 days, and low (1 mg/day) and high (10 mg/day) doses of EP orally administered once a day for 14 days. Dorsal hairs of C57BL/6N mice were depilated to synchronize anagen induction. Hair growth activity was evaluated by gross and microscopic observations. Sections of dorsal skin were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. We also treated the various concentrations of EP (5, 10 and 50 µg/mL) for 24 h on the human dermal papilla cells (HDPs) and examined the effects of EP on the expression of FGF-7 and mTOR signalling. RESULTS: EP enhanced the induction of anagen in the dorsal skin of mice, characterized by the appearance of inner root sheath along with hair shaft, the emergence of hair shaft through the epidermis. EP increased the expression of FGF-7, while decreased the level of FGF-5 in C57/BL6 mice. EP also increased the expression of FGF-7, activated the mTOR signalling in HDPs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EP has a potency to enhance the growth of hair follicle, promoting hair growth through regulation of FGF-7 and FGF-5.
Subject(s)
Eclipta/chemistry , Fibroblast Growth Factor 5/metabolism , Fibroblast Growth Factor 7/metabolism , Hair/drug effects , Hair/growth & development , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Line , Female , Hair Follicle/drug effects , Hair Follicle/growth & development , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Minoxidil/pharmacology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Skin/drug effects , Skin/metabolismABSTRACT
Gongjin-dan (GJD) is a traditional formula that is widely used in Korea and China, and it has been used from 1345 AD in China to improve the circulation between the kidneys and the heart and to prevent all diseases. However, its adverse effects have not yet been reported. We present a patient with minimal change disease and focal tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with GJD. A 72-year-old man visited the clinic for generalized edema 20 days after starting GJD. His serum albumin level was low and nephrotic-range proteinuria was detected. A kidney biopsy showed minimal change disease and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. After stopping GJD, a spontaneous complete remission was achieved. We discuss the possible pathogenesis of GJD-induced minimal change disease and review the adverse effects of GJD's ingredients and traditional Chinese medicines that can induce proteinuria. We report a new adverse effect of GJD, which might induce increased IL-13 production and an allergic response, leading to minimal change disease and focal tubulointerstitial nephritis.
