Kim MY, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2012 Feb;6(1):21-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2012.6.1.21

Fish-derived collagen has recently emerged as an alternative collagen source with bioactive properties, including the enhancement of hair and skin health. It is also cost-effective and has high bioavailability, in addition to having fewer side-effects compared to collagen from porcine skin or bovine skin. Collagen peptides (CPs) extracted from the scales of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) reportedly promote hair and skin health. This study sought to evaluate the effects of CPs on hair growth using in vitro and in vivo models. CP significantly enhanced hair regrowth and the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) in vitro. CP was orally administered to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks to confirm the hair-growth-promoting effects. The mice were divided into four groups: negative control (distilled water), positive control (1 mg/kg of finasteride), CP500 (500 mg/kg of CP), and CP1000 (1000 mg/kg of CP). CP treatment significantly enhanced the proliferation of hDPCs compared to 0.2 μM finasteride, in addition to enhancing hair regrowth. Particularly, CP1000 treatment achieved a hair-growth index similar to that of the PC. In H&E staining, the CP groups exhibited a high A/T ratio. Furthermore, CP increased the expression of hair growth factors (IGF-1, VEGF, krt27, Gprc5d, and Ki67) and decreased the growth inhibitory factor (TGF-β1). Furthermore, CP significantly upregulated the Wnt/β-catenin pathways and downregulated the BMP pathways. Therefore, these results indicate that CP could be used as food supplements and nutraceuticals for hair loss prevention as well as hair regrowth during alopecia.

Kim MY, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2011 Oct;5(5):421-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2011.5.5.421

Geranium sibiricum L. has been used as a medicinal plant to treat diarrhea, bacterial infection, and cancer in Bulgaria, Peru, and Korea. However, its hair growth-promoting effect was not investigated so far. This study examined the effects of Geranium sibiricum L. extract (GSE) on hair growth, using in vitro and in vivo models. Antioxidant, proliferation and migration assay of GSE was performed with human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). Hair-growth promoting effect was measured in animal model. Relative expression of interleukin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta 1 was determined by real time RT-PCR. Expression of Ki-67 and stem cell factor were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. GSE treatment proliferated and migrated human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) more than treatment of 10 μM minoxidil. GSE significantly stimulated the expression of Ki-67 protein and the mRNA levels of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in hDPCs. Topical application of 1,000 ppm GSE for 3 weeks promoted more significant hair growth on shaved C57BL/6 mice than did 5% minoxidil. The histological morphology of hair follicles demonstrated an active anagen phase with the induction of stem cell factor. GSE treatment significantly reduced the number of mast cells and the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 in mouse skin tissues. These results demonstrated that GSE promotes hair growth in vitro and in vivo by regulating growth factors and the cellular response.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of apple pomace (AP) and apple juice concentrate (AC) supplementation on body weight and fat loss as well as lipid metabolism in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. Diet-induced obese rats were assigned to three groups (n=8 for each group): high fat diet (HFD) control, HFD containing 10% (w/w) AP, and HFD containing 10% (w/w) AC. There was also a normal diet group (n=8). After 5 weeks, body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, serum and hepatic lipid profiles, liver morphology, and adipocyte size were measured. Body weight gain, white adipose tissue (WAT) weight, serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, epididymal adipocyte size, and lesion scores were significantly lower and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and brown adipose tissue weights were significantly higher in the AP and AC groups compared with the HFD group. In addition, atherogenic indices in the AP and AC groups were significantly lower than in the HFD group. These results indicate that supplementing apple products such as AP and AC may help suppress body weight and WAT gain, as well as improve lipid profiles in diet-induced obese rats.