Differences in Growth Response of Human Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Herbal Extracts and a Growth Factor

Background: One of the key questions in biochemistry is why cell becomes aged and what are the involved factors? Why cell growth is stopped after some divisions and cells become senescent? This occurs in a greater frame in the whole body and cells dye after a while. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by a loss or decrease in hair follicle size, which could be related to the loss of hair follicle stem cells. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop novel therapies to increase hair follicle stem cells viability and proliferation. Objective: In this study, we examined the effects of bFGF and aqueous Rosemary leaf and Marshmallow root extracts on human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells (hHF-MSCs) proliferation in order to identify their potential for hair growth. Methods: hHF-MSCs were isolated from hair follicle tissues and their mesenchymal nature confirmed by detecting cell surface antigens via flow cytometry. Bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) incorporation assay was used to study the cell proliferation effect of herbal extracts in hHF-MSCs. Results: Human hair follicle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hHF -MSCs) were obtained by organ culture. They exhibited surface markers of mesenchymal stem cells as shown by positive staining for CD44, CD90 and CD105. Herbal extracts and bFGF were found to induce significant proliferation of human hHF-MSCs at concentrations ranging from 10 to 20 µl/ml and 15 to 25µl/ml.   78 Conclusion: These results suggest that herbal extract may produce positive effects on the hair growth promotion of hHF-MSCs and suggesting that herbal extracts may be a good candidate for helping hair growth promotion.