A Timosaponin B-II containing scalp care solution for improvement of scalp hydration, dandruff reduction, and hair loss prevention: A comparative study on healthy volunteers before and after application.

BACKGROUND: The plant species Anemarrhena asphodeloides has commonly been used for health and therapeutic purposes. Timosaponin B-II, which is present at a high concentration in A asphodeloides, was found to enhance the immune and anti-inflammatory responses of human bodies. AIMS: To evaluate benefits of a timosaponin B-II containing scalp care solution on hair loss prevention and scalp healthiness in multiple physiological and biological profiles. METHODS: Prior the study, 90 subjects applied scalp care solution base without timosaponin B-II for two weeks followed by application of the scalp care solution containing 0.5% timosaponin B-II for 28 days. The subject's hair follicle hydrocortisone level, hair fall number, hair luster level, dandruff level, sensation score, hydration level, lipid level, redness as well as the pH level of scalps were quantitatively assessed every 7 days. RESULTS: Multiple parameters on hair and scalp conditions were promoted by application of the timosaponin B-II containing scalp care solution. Compared to baseline values, significant improvements in hair luster, scalp hydration, hair fall number, and scalp redness level could be observed. CONCLUSION: Timosaponin B-II promotes multiple physiological factors on hair and scalps. The scalp care solution containing A asphodeloides extracts may benefit the scalp healthiness and hair loss prevention.

Sex-related differences in response to zinc pyrithione shampoo vs. non-anti-dandruff shampoo.

OBJECTIVE: Sex-related differences in skin properties may be expected to impact dandruff formation and treatment. A meta-analysis approach was undertaken to investigate potential differences between males and females in response to zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) treatment vs. non-anti-dandruff (AD) shampoo. A separate pooled statistical analysis of ceramide and total protein loss endpoints was also undertaken to assess potential sex-related differences in stratum corneum properties that might influence response to ZnPT vs. non-AD shampoo in subjects with dandruff. METHODS: The meta-analysis approach included data from 17 half-head, double-blind, randomized studies (N = 2088) undertaken in Asia to assess the effectiveness of 1% ZnPT shampoo and/or non-AD shampoo in reducing dandruff severity, as assessed by Total Weighted Head Score Adherent Flake (TWHS-AF) methodology. Treatment duration was 4 weeks, with TWHS-AF measured at weekly intervals. Data from an additional three studies (N = 143) conducted in Asia were included in the pooled analysis of ceramide levels and protein loss from scalp skin of subjects with dandruff. RESULTS: Response to 1% ZnPT vs. non-AD shampoo was greater in males than in females at all time points; after 4 weeks, the between-treatment difference in TWHS-AF was -17.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] -19.5, -15.5) in males and -11.1 (-13.2, -8.9) in females. Sex-related differences were observed between males and females in response to both 1% ZnPT and non-AD shampoos. Males had a stronger response than females to treatment with 1% ZnPT shampoo, while dandruff decreased to a greater extent in females than in males when using non-AD shampoo. Statistically significant sex-related differences in ceramide levels and total protein loss were observed (both P < 0.01). Ceramide levels were 0.76 times lower (95% CI 0.60, 0.97) in males than in females, while total protein loss was 1.4 times greater (95% CI 1.1, 1.9) in males than in females. CONCLUSION: Males show a greater response than females to 1% ZnPT shampoo, while females show a greater response than males to non-AD shampoo. These findings may in part be explained by the sex-related differences observed in stratum corneum properties, which may make males more prone to dandruff than females.

Ecotoxicological evaluation of two anti-dandruff hair shampoos using Lemna minor.

Hair shampoos, a mixture of various organic and organic compounds, are commonly used personnel care products. Since shampoos are used in almost every household and beauty shop, their ingredients are common components of domestic and municipal wastewater. However, studies on the effect of shampoos to aquatic plants can hardly be found in literature. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the phytotoxic effects of two commonly used anti-dandruff shampoos (named here AD 1 and AD 2) using Lemna minor as a biotest organism. For toxicity assessment, frond number, fresh and dry biomass, and light-harvesting pigments (chlorophyll a, b and total carotenoids) of Lemna were used as end points. Five different concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 5%) of each shampoo were tested in comparison to the control. At lower concentrations of shampoos, some minor and non-significant stimulatory effects were observed in some parameters, but at concentrations above 0.01% both the shampoos significantly inhibited almost all parameters in Lemna. The EC50 values obtained for frond number were 0.034 and 0.11% for AD 1 and AD 2, respectively. The fresh biomass gave EC50 values of 0.07 and 0.066% for AD 1 and AD 2, respectively. Based on the preset study, it can be speculated that shampoo contamination at higher concentrations in water bodies can be a threat to aquatic organisms. This study can be used as a baseline to further investigate shampoo toxicity using other species and to explore the mechanism of shampoo toxicity in aquatic plants.

Reinforcement of barrier function and scalp homeostasis by Senkyunolide A to fight against dandruff.

OBJECTIVE: Senkyunolide-A (SENKY) can be isolated from Apium graveolens seed oil obtained using supercritical CO2 extraction. SENKY and its parent compounds, the N-butyl phthalides, have been demonstrated to protect cells from CO poisoning, to prevent diabetes mellitus and to decrease cancer cell proliferation. This study was undertaken to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the effect of SENKY on epidermal function improvement, Malassezia effect control, scalp soothing and dandruff reduction via skin protection-related pathways. METHODS: DNA-array and proteomic studies were performed on human keratinocytes, sebocytes and skin explants to demonstrate SENKY activities. Two clinical evaluations were performed under dermatologist control on 106 volunteers, with greasy or dry scalp, experiencing dandruff, itching and redness. Volunteers tested a shampoo followed, or not, by a leave-on, containing SENKY, or their placebos. Dandruff severity and redness were scored on the scalp. Moisturization and sebum release were recorded using relevant measuring apparatus. Itching and scratching evaluations came from volunteers' self-declarations. RESULTS: DNA-array studies on keratinocytes showed a clear regulation of skin barrier functions and epidermis defence pathways. Upregulation of epidermal differentiation complex genes was observed. These preliminary observations were reinforced by immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry studies showing a significant increase of involucrin, filaggrin, loricrin, SPRR, LC3B and ceramide 2 productions. Tight-junctions and corneodesmosomes were significantly reinforced both in keratinocyte cultures (corneodesmosin, claudin, ZO-1) and in skin explants (desmoglein). DNA-array studies also demonstrated upregulation of genes involved in detoxification and anti-inflammation pathways. Proteomic studies revealed that hBD2 production was increased in keratinocytes in contact with SENKY, whereas IL-8, PGE-2 and TLR-9 releases were repressed as well as sebocyte lipid production. Clinical evaluations confirmed that after 3 weeks, SENKY significantly reduced dandruff intensity, redness, itching and scalp histamine content compared to placebo and beginning of treatment. CONCLUSION: For the first time, SENKY has been shown to promote scalp homoeostasis by reinforcing barrier and defence functions at both gene and protein levels. It reduces irritation and redness in promoting detoxification and anti-inflammation pathways while controlling the niche of Malassezia. Applied on scalp, SENKY significantly reduces the formation of dandruff and soothes the scalp.

Novel inhibitor against Malassezia globosa LIP1 (SMG1), a potential anti-dandruff target.

Compelling evidence have demonstrated the role of lipase activity in the pathogenicity of Malassezia globosa toward dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (D/SD). As a representative secreted lipase from M. globosa CBS 7966, Malassezia globosa LIP1 (SMG1) is considered a potential anti-dandruff target. In this study, homology modeling, docking-based virtual screening and in vitro lipase-based assay were integrated to identify the first hit compound against SMG1, with an IC50 of 20 µM against synthetic lipase substrate, and of 0.19 µM when using natural lipase substrate. Evaluation of similar compounds, along with docking, offered information on the binding patterns of the hit compound. This work is expected to serve as a starting point for the rational design of more potent inhibitors against SMG1.

Ecotoxicity of climbazole, a fungicide contained in antidandruff shampoo.

Emerging pollutants such as personal care products can reach the environment via effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and digested sludge. Only recently, the antidandruff agent and antimycotic climbazole was detected for the first time in a WWTP effluent with concentrations up to 0.5 µg/L. Climbazole acts as a C14-demethylase inhibitor (DMI) fungicide and thus has a high efficacy against fungi, but knowledge of its potential environmental impact is lacking. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to characterize climbazole's ecotoxicity by conducting standard biotests with organisms representing different trophic levels from the aquatic as well as the terrestrial ecosystems. It was found that the toxicity of climbazole is mostly similar to that of other DMI fungicides, whereas it proved to be particularly toxic to primary producers. The lowest median effective concentrations (EC50s) were determined for Lemna minor, at 0.013 mg/L (biomass yield), and Avena sativa, at 18.5 mg/kg soil dry weight (shoot biomass). Reduction of frond size in water lentils and shoot length in higher plants suggested an additional plant growth-retarding mode of action of climbazole. In addition, it was demonstrated here that for an ionizable compound such as climbazole, the soil pH can have a considerable influence on phytotoxicity.