Exogenous stimulation with Eclipta alba promotes hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and downregulates TGF-β1 expression in nude mice

Homocysteine in androgenetic alopecia: A case control study and observational experiments on mice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between homocysteine (HCY) and androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

METHODS

A case control study and two observational experiments on mice were conducted. In the first part, a total of 528 Chinese AGA patients and 500 age-matched healthy controls were included. Serum HCY levels of AGA and controls were compared. In the second part, eight mice were divided into two groups. Both groups of mice had their hair removed. AGA group received a DHT injection, and the other as control group. HCY levels in hair follicles (HFs) were detected by ELISA and compared. In the third part, twelve mice were divided into three groups and fed with different concentrations of methionine. After 4 weeks, serum HCY levels, parameters related to hair growth through observation and HE staining, and expression of immunohistochemistry (IHC) hair-growth-related markers Ki67, VEGF, IGF-1, Krt27, FGF9, and TGF-β1 were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

In the first part, HCY levels were higher in AGA than the controls of both genders. However, there was no difference in HCY levels between groups with varying severity. Rates of hyperhomocysteinemia was higher in AGA patients than the controls. Logistic regression analysis showed serum HCY levels was positively correlated with the incidence of AGA. In the second part, HCY of the HFs in the AGA group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The third part showed that the increase in serum HCY levels inhibited the growth of mice hair, with the less expressed stimulative markers Ki67, VEGF, IGF-1, Krt27, and FGF9, while there was no difference in the expression of inhibitory markers TGF-β1.

CONCLUSION

There is a potential relationship between HCY and AGA. HCY had an inhibitory effect on hair growth. Further studies are necessary to explore the specific mechanism.

Discovery of petroleum ether extract of eclipta targeting p53/Fas pathway for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced alopecia: Network pharmacology and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ecliptea herba, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for hair loss, was first recorded in the Tang Dynasty's 'Qian Jin Yue Ling', of which the active ingredients and mechanisms of action in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced hair loss remain poorly investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the effects of the petroleum ether extract of Eclipta (PEE) on alopecia and follicle damage and elucidate its potential therapeutic mechanisms using the integration of network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UPLC-MS was used to analyse the chemical composition of PEE. A network pharmacology approach was employed to establish the 'components-targets-pathways' network of PEE to explore potential therapeutic pathways and targets. Molecular docking was used for validation, and the mechanism of PEE in treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) was elucidated using in vitro and in vivo on CIA models.

RESULTS

UPLC-MS analysis of PEE revealed 185 components, while network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses revealed potential active compounds and their target molecules, suggesting the involvement of core genes, such as TP53, ESR1, AKT1, IL6, TNF, and EGFR. The key components included wedelolactone, dimethyl-wedelolactone, luteoloside, linarin, and hispidulin. In vivo, PEE promoted hair growth, restored the number of hair follicles, and reduced follicle apoptosis. Conversely, in vitro, PEE enhanced cell viability, reduced apoptosis, and protected HaCaT cells from damage induced by 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC).

CONCLUSIONS

PEE alleviated hair follicle damage in CIA mice by inhibiting the P53/Fas pathway, which may be associated with inhibiting hair follicle cell apoptosis. This study provides a novel therapeutic strategy for treating cyclophosphamide-induced hair loss.

Exploring the effects of Chinese herbal ingredients on the signaling pathway of alopecia and the screening of effective Chinese herbal compounds

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

alopecia is a hair disorder that can add a significant medical and psychological burden to patients. Currently, the FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) are minoxidil and finasteride and immunosuppressives are therapeutic options for alopecia areata (AA), but the objective adverse effects and high cost of these treatments reduce patient compliance and thus the effectiveness of the drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has good efficacy, a high safety profile and low treatment costs, but its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. The use of signaling pathways to modulate hair loss is a major direction in the study of the pathogenesis and pharmacology of alopecia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to collect the results of experimental studies related to alopecia, to screen previously documented combinations of herbs claimed to be effective based on the herbs and their constituent compounds used in the identified studies, and to uncover other useful information that we hope will better guide the clinical application and scientific research of drug combinations or individual herbs for the treatment of alopecia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have reviewed experimental studies to determine the methods used and the mechanisms of action of the herbs and constituent compounds. The following keywords were searched in databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI and CSTJ." Medicinal plants" "Chinese herbal medicine", "hair loss", " alopecia", "androgenetic alopecia" and " alopecia areata ". We also collected combinations of drugs from books approved by various schools for screening.

RESULTS

Using known combinations of compounds within herbal medicine to match the documented combinations, 34 topical combinations and 74 oral combinations were identified, and among the 108 herbal combinations screened Angelica, Rehmannia glutinosaLigusticum chuanxiong hort, Radix Rehmanniae, etc. The number of occurrences was very high, and the association with vascular drugs was also found to be very close.

CONCLUSIONS

This review further elucidates the therapeutic mechanisms of the compounds within the herbal components associated with alopecia and screens for other combinations that may be dominated by this component for the treatment of alopecia, uncovering compounds from other drugs that may be key factors in the treatment of alopecia. This improvement will provide a better quality of evidence for the effectiveness of herbs and compounds used to treat alopecia.

Whole blood transcriptome profiling identifies candidate genes associated with alopecia in male giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Background

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a threatened species endemic to China. Alopecia, characterized by thinning and broken hair, mostly occurs in breeding males. Alopecia significantly affects the health and public image of the giant panda and the cause of alopecia is unclear.

Results

Here, we researched gene expression profiles of four alopecia giant pandas and seven healthy giant pandas. All pandas were approximately ten years old and their blood samples collected during the breeding season. A total of 458 up-regulated DEGs and 211 down-regulated DEGs were identified. KEGG pathway enrichment identified that upregulated genes were enriched in the Notch signaling pathway and downregulated genes were enriched in ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, and thermogenesis pathways. We obtained 28 hair growth-related DEGs, and identified three hub genes NOTCH1, SMAD3, and TGFB1 in PPI analysis. Five hair growth-related signaling pathways were identified with abnormal expression, these were Notch, Wnt, TGF-β, Mapk, and PI3K-Akt. The overexpression of NOTCH1 delays inner root sheath differentiation and results in hair shaft abnormalities. The delayed hair regression was associated with a significant decrease in the expression levels of TGFB1.

Conclusions

Our data confirmed the abnormal expression of several hair-related genes and pathways and identified alopecia candidate genes in the giant panda. Results of this study provide theoretical basis for the establishment of prevention and treatment strategies for giant pandas with alopecia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08501-z.

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae): Ethnomedicinal Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Biological Activities

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Syn.: Eclipta alba (L.) Hassak, Family: Asteraceae) is an important medicinal plant in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is widely used in treating various diseases of skin, liver and stomach in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and other countries. The main aim of this review was to collect and analyze the available information on traditional uses, phytoconstituents, and biological activities of E. prostrata. The scientific information was collected from the online bibliographic databases such as Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, SciFinder, etc. and books and proceedings. The active phytochemicals were coumestan derivatives, phenolic acid derivatives, flavonoids, triterpenoid and steroid saponins, substituted thiophenes, etc. Various extracts and isolated compounds of E. prostrata showed a wide range of biological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and hair growth promoting activities. Relatively a few studies have been performed to reveal the exact phytoconstituents responsible for their corresponding pharmacological activities. Future studies should focus on detailed mechanism based studies using animal models and clinical studies.

A Multimodal Hair-Loss Treatment Strategy Using a New Topical Phytoactive Formulation: A Report of Five Cases

Introduction. Current approved medications for hair loss, such as topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, may have suboptimal efficacy or side effects precluding continued use in some patients. Thus, we report an evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a new topical botanical formulation -GASHEE containing over 12 phytoactive ingredients that affect multiple targets in the cascade of pathophysiologic events that cause hair loss. Five patients with various hair-loss conditions, including cases of previous treatment failures, are presented. Case Presentation. This is a case series of four women and one man with hair loss due to various causes, four of whom had failed minoxidil treatment for over a year. All patients used the topical treatment as a sole therapy for at least 3 months before the documentation of outcomes, which involved interval changes noted through each patient's account, direct observation, and photography. Discussion. In all patients, we observed significant improvements in hair regrowth in the nape, crown, vertex, and temple areas after 3-15 months of treatment. All patients were highly satisfied with their results and reported no adverse events. Although the use of botanicals in the treatment of hair loss is in an infant stage, the new formulation used in this study demonstrated a good efficacy related to hair growth, warranting further evaluation.

A comprehensive review of biochemical factors in herbs and their constituent compounds in experimental studies on alopecia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alopecia is a chronic condition that may cause emotional and psychological distress to patients, which may significantly impact a patient's quality of life. As conventional treatments have only a transient therapeutic effect and result in unwanted side effects, many patients have attempted to find therapeutic herbs or compounds that function as safer and more potent treatments for alopecia. Many such herbs have been used in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for centuries; however, there is a lack of information on the therapeutic mechanisms of herbs used for the treatment of alopecia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this review was to perform a critical assessment of the methods and results of experimental studies related to alopecia and to provide the potential mechanisms of action of herbs and their constituent compounds used in the identified studies, in particular, in relation to the stages of the cell cycle. We hope to better guide the clinical application and scientific research of herbs for the treatment of alopecia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed experimental studies to determine the methods used and the mechanism of action of the herbs and constituent compounds. Databases, including Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, OASIS, and RISS, were searched for the following keywords: "medicinal plants," "alopecia," "alopecia areata," "androgenetic alopecia," "animal experiment," and "in vitro study." We also assessed the risks of bias, toxicity, and taxonomy to determine the quality of information.

RESULTS

C57BL/6 mice and human dermal papilla cells were the most commonly used models for in vivo and in vitro studies, respectively. Many herbs and their constituent compounds were used to treat alopecia by managing the hair cycle, keratinocyte proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, hormones, and inflammation. These compounds prolong the anagen phase, shorten the transition from the telogen to phase anagen, and inhibit premature catagen phase.

CONCLUSIONS

This review has further elucidated the therapeutic mechanisms of herbs and their constituent compounds that are relevant to alopecia and discussed the effectiveness of using herbal treatments. There is a need to develop evidence regarding the quality control, taxonomy, and toxicology of these compounds. Such improvements will provide a better quality of evidence to ensure the efficacy and safety of herbs and compounds used for the treatment of alopecia.

Bafilomycin A1 Accelerates Chronic Refractory Wound Healing in db/db Mice

Numerous studies have reported that autophagy plays an important role in chronic wound healing, and enhancement of autophagic activity impairs cutaneous wound healing. The autophagy inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1) inhibits autophagy by preventing the formation of autophagosomes. This study aimed at elucidating the effect of Bafilomycin A1 on chronic refractory wound healing in diabetic mice. A total of 40 diabetic (db/db) mice and 20 nondiabetic (db/m) mice were used in this study. Full-thickness skin defects were generated in the db/db mice models, which were then divided into the following two groups: the nontreated (db/db group) and Baf A1-treated groups (Baf A1 group). The same skin defects were generated in db/m mice (db/m group) to serve as a control. We demonstrated that Baf A1 treatment significantly accelerated wound healing in db/db mice and exerted good healing effects. Moreover, Baf A1 inhibited autophagy in the newly generated epidermis and had minor effects on metabolism in db/db mice. PCNA expression, as detected by immunohistochemistry, and collagen thickness, as detected by Masson's trichrome staining on the 14th day, were higher in the db/m and Baf A1 groups than in the db/db group. In addition, the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the db/m and Baf A1 groups increased significantly on day 6, and the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 also increased significantly on day 9. However, there were no significant changes in the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in the db/db group. Therefore, Baf A1 may accelerate diabetic chronic refractory wound healing by promoting cell proliferation, collagen production, and regulating the inflammatory balance.

A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Eclipta prostrata, a traditional herbal medicine, has long been used in Asia and South America for the therapy of hemorrhagic diseases (e.g. hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematuria, epistaxis and uterine bleeding), skin diseases, respiratory disorders, coronary heart disease, hair loss, vitiligo, snake bite and those caused by the deficiency of liver and kidney.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

In this review, we highlight relatively comprehensive and up-to-date information of E. prostrata on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity, along with featuring the gaps in current knowledge, aiming to provide references for future research and possible opportunities for well applications of this medicinal plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on E. prostrata was gathered from scientific databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scifinder, Baidu Scholar, PubMed and CNKI). Information was also obtained from local books, Ph.D. theses and M.Sc. dissertations and Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The plant taxonomy was validated by the database "The Plant List".

RESULTS

Various phytochemical classes has been identified and isolated from the plant covering triterpenes, flavonoids, thiopenes, coumestans, steroids and others. Among these, coumestans are reported as the most common ingredients. The isolated crude extracts and individual compounds have been reported to exhibit promising pharmacological properties, such as hepatoprotective, osteoprotective, cytotoxic, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, hypolipidemic, promoting hair growth, rejuvenative and neuroprotective effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Until now, significant progress has been witnessed in phytochemistry and pharmacology of E. prostrata. Thus, some traditional uses has been well supported and clarified by modern pharmacological studies. Moreover, E. prostrata also showed therapeutic potential in some refractory diseases such as cancer, dementia and diabetes. But, present findings are still insufficient that cannot satisfactorily explain some mechanisms of action. More well-designed studies in vitro especially in vivo are required to establish links between the traditional uses and bioactivities, discover new skeletons and activity molecules, as well as ensure safety before clinical use.

Phytochemistry and neuroprotective effects of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk

Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. or Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) or Eclipta erecta (Linn.) is an herbaceous plant well known in Asian as African traditional medicines. These extracts are used in traditional medicine for treatment of microbial diseases and certain metabolic disorders. This review aimed to investigate phytochemical profile and neuroprotective effects of E. alba (L.) Hassk. Several compounds belonging to the families of phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids and polysaccharides have been isolated, identified or characterized from E. alba extracts. This plant has a diverse neuropharmacological profile. Thus, its extract improves cognitive deficits and also attenuated epileptic seizures. Phytomolecules implicated in these potentials are Eclalbasaponin II and luteolin, respectively. This document updates isolated and identified organic compounds from the extracts of E. alba and reviews their neuropharmacological activities.

New insights into the tonifying kidney-yin herbs and formulas for the treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is characterized by an increasing osseous fragility and fracture resulting from the low mass and deteriorated microarchitecture in the bone tissue. The hormone replacement therapy and alendronate were frequently used to treat osteoporosis as the primary therapeutic strategy, but their adverse effects have severely limited their extensive clinical application, therefore, it is urgent to develop alternative or complementary therapeutic agents for anti-osteoporosis. Interestingly, with more people focusing on the complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese herbs and formulas are being gradually recognized as safe and effective agents in the treatment of osteoporosis. In particular, a notable trend is that increasing studies are making efforts to clarify the anti-osteoporotic effects and mechanism of the tonifying kidney-yin herbs and formulas, a category of agents identified as effective therapy. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the tonifying kidney-yin herbs and formulas that have been reported in the treatment of osteoporosis as well as how the agents play their roles in detail. This current study not only will advance our understanding of the actions of tonifying kidney-yin herbs and formulas, but also provide new evidence for the clinic use of the tonifying kidney-yin herbs and formulas in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Eclipta prostrata

Eclipta prostrata belongs to a family of medicinal plants (Asteraceae) and plays a role in the treatment of several diseases, including infectious hepatitis, snake venom poisoning, gastritis, and respiratory diseases such as a cough and asthma. A number of compounds, including thiophene derivatives, steroids, triterpenes, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, polypeptides, and coumestans, have been isolated from E. prostrata. The plant functional compounds can act as reducing agent in the field of nanoparticle synthesis. The extracts of E. prostrata are widely used for green biosynthesis of various metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, nanoparticles, which showed a potential for pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and biomedical applications. Establishment of a efficient in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation method of E. prostrata is a vital prerequisite for application of biotechnology in order to improve secondary metabolite yields. The present mini-review discusses its pharmacological profile, chemical constituents, biotechnological, and ethnomedical uses, mainly focusing on antimyotoxic, antihemorrhagic, antiproliferative, antioxidant, antitumor, antihyperglycemic, antidementia, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, antivenom, anti-HIV, and larvicidal activities, so that the pharmaceutical potential of the plant can be better evaluated. The mini review, providing up-to-date phytochemical and other information on E. prostrata, will serve a reference for further studies.

Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba Shows In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity without Exhibiting Toxicological Effects

As per WHO estimates, 80% of people around the world use medicinal plants for the cure and prevention of various diseases including cancer owing to their easy availability and cost effectiveness. Eclipta alba has long been used in Ayurveda to treat liver diseases, eye ailments, and hair related disorders. The promising medicinal value of E. alba prompted us to study the antioxidant, nontoxic, and anticancer potential of its alcoholic extract. In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant effect of the alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba (AEEA) in multiple cancer cell lines along with control. We have also evaluated its effect on different in vivo toxicity parameters. Here, we found that AEEA was found to be most active in most of the cancer cell lines but it significantly induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines by disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage. Moreover, AEEA treatment inhibited migration in both MCF 7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose dependent manner. Further, AEEA possesses robust in vitro antioxidant activity along with high total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In summary, our results indicate that Eclipta alba has enormous potential in complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of cancer.

Mechanism of action of herbs and their active constituents used in hair loss treatment

This article discusses the mechanisms via topically applied products containing herbs and their active constituents affect the hair growth process. It was reported that the mechanisms involving (1) insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), (2) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), (3) epidermal growth factor (EGF), (4) fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), (5) endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), (6) Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, (7) prostaglandin E (PGE), (8) prostaglandin F (PGF) stimulate hair growth, whereas the mechanisms engaging (1) 5α-reductase and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), (2) transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), (3) fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF-5), (4) prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) inhibit hair growth. The knowledge summarized in the paper may be an inspiration to create new preparations for the treatment of hair loss.