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Effects of Ginseng Rhizome and Ginsenoside Ro on Testosterone 5α-Reductase and Hair Re-growth in Testosterone-treated Mice

  1. Kazuya Murata1,
  2. Fumiaki Takeshita2,
  3. Keiichi Samukawa3,
  4. Tadato Tani4,
  5. Hideaki Matsuda1,*

Article first published online: 2 MAY 2011

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3511

Issue

Phytotherapy Research

Phytotherapy Research

Volume 26, Issue 1, pages 48–53, January 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Murata, K., Takeshita, F., Samukawa, K., Tani, T. and Matsuda, H. (2012), Effects of Ginseng Rhizome and Ginsenoside Ro on Testosterone 5α-Reductase and Hair Re-growth in Testosterone-treated Mice. Phytotherapy Research, 26: 48–53. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3511

Author Information

  1. 1

    Faculty of Pharmacy, Kinki University, Osaka, Japan

  2. 2

    Research and Development Division, OHKI Group, Tokyo, Japan

  3. 3

    Department of Pharmacology, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan

  4. 4

    Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Osaka, Japan

*Hideaki Matsuda, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan.
E-mail: matsuda@phar.kindai.ac.jp

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 JAN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 2 MAY 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 22 MAR 2011
  4. Manuscript Revised: 7 MAR 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 18 SEP 2010

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Keywords:

  • Panax ginseng;
  • rhizome of ginseng;
  • testosterone 5α-reductase;
  • ginsenoside Ro;
  • hair re-growth

This research program on the novel functions of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer focused on the effects of ginseng rhizome on hair re-growth in androgenetic alopecia. Extracts of red ginseng rhizome showed greater dose-dependent inhibitory effects against testosterone 5α-reductase (5αR) when compared with extracts of the main root. Ginsenoside Ro, the predominant ginsenoside in the rhizome, and ginsenoside Rg3, a unique ginsenoside in red ginseng, showed inhibitory activity against 5αR with IC50 values of 259.4 and 86.1 µm, respectively. The rhizome of P. japonicus, which contains larger amounts of ginsenoside Ro, also inhibited 5αR.

Topical administration of extracts of red ginseng rhizomes (2 mg/mouse) and ginsenoside Ro (0.2 mg/mouse) to shaved skin inhibited hair re-growth suppression after shaving in the testosterone-treated C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that red ginseng rhizomes containing both oleanane- and dammarane-type ginsenosides are a promising raw material for cosmetic use. This is the first report that ginsenoside Ro enhances in vivo hair re-growth based on their inhibitory activity against 5αR in the androgenetic alopecia model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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