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I was reading of some research that was released in March this year (mouse model) where they were able to promote anagen through the shh pathway by using 'Polygonum multiflorum extract' (lol, I know):
Abstract: In Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group, we observed increase in the number and the size of hair follicles that are considered as evidence for anagen phase induction. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that earlier induction of -catenin and Shh were observed in Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group compared to that in control group.
Source: Park, Zhang & Park, 2011. Available here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...78874111001644
Abstract: In Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group, we observed increase in the number and the size of hair follicles that are considered as evidence for anagen phase induction. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that earlier induction of -catenin and Shh were observed in Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group compared to that in control group.
It is reported that THSG, an active compounds from Polygonum multiflorum, induced melanogenesis in melanocytes (Jiang et al., 2009), which suggested that it might promote hair growth by increasing anagen-phase hair follicles. In order to improve the bioavailability of Polygonum multiflorum extract, we produced Polygonum multiflorum extract after microbial fermentation using strains of Lactobacillus. Therefore, we investigated the hair growth promoting activity of the fermented Polygonum multiflorum extract using 7 week-old C57BL6/N mice which are in the stable telogen phase. The shaved back skins of C57BL6/N were treated with topical application of Polygonum multiflorum extract for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. At 2 weeks, Polygonum multiflorum extract induced hair growth in the telogenic C57BL/6 mice, while neither less visible hair growth was observed in the control group. To further investigate the hair growth promoting effect, we plucked 10 hairs per mouse randomly from the treated area and measured the hair length. The hair length of Polygonum multiflorum extract treated mice was significantly longer than control group. Further, we will compare the hair promoting activity between Polygonum multiflorum water extract and fermented Polygonum multiflorum. If so, we will analyze the active compounds from each extract, which are responsible for the hair promoting activity. Various hormones, growth factors and development-related molecules are involved in hair follicle growth (Boivin et al., 2006; Datta et al., 2009; Stenn and Paus, 2001; Yamazaki et al., 1999). To trigger anagen onset, several activators must be expressed up to a critical threshold concentration. Among them, -catenin and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression play key regulators of hair follicular growth and cycling that act as anagen-inducing signaling molecules (Peters et al., 2002; Stenn and Paus, 2001). Induced -catenin expression was observed in the dermal papilla at anagen onset and also detected in the stem cell progeny in the hair matrix throughout anagen phase (Schneider et al., 2009). Shh mainly expressed during anagen phase.
When catagen phase of hair follicles begins, Shh expression ceases and its expression is hard to detect in the telogen hairs (Oro and Higgins, 2003). To elucidate the molecular mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum extract in inducing anagen hair follicles, we examined the expression levels of -catenin and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in the skin. Immunohistochemical analysis result showed that -catenin and Shh expression were up-regulated in Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group compared to that in control group at 2 weeks. Some studies showed that continuous -catenin signaling is required to maintain hair follicle tumors (Lo Celso et al., 2004). We observed that Shh and -catenin expression levels gradually began to reduce in both groups after 3 week (data not shown), indicating that anagen phase of hair follicles was ceased (Datta et al., 2009). Further experiments are needed to identify active components in fermented Polygonum multiflorum extracts and to determine their mechanisms of action, which might be responsible for the hair promoting activity. In summary, it was reported for the first time that Polygonum multiflorum extract promoted hair growth by inducing anagen in telogenic C57BL6/N mice. In Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group, we observed an increase in the number and the size of hair follicles that is considered as evidence for anagen phase induction. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that -catenin and Shh were expressed earlier in Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group than that in control group. Taken together, these results suggest that Polygonum multiflorum extract promote hair growth by inducing anagen phase of hair follicles.
When catagen phase of hair follicles begins, Shh expression ceases and its expression is hard to detect in the telogen hairs (Oro and Higgins, 2003). To elucidate the molecular mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum extract in inducing anagen hair follicles, we examined the expression levels of -catenin and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in the skin. Immunohistochemical analysis result showed that -catenin and Shh expression were up-regulated in Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group compared to that in control group at 2 weeks. Some studies showed that continuous -catenin signaling is required to maintain hair follicle tumors (Lo Celso et al., 2004). We observed that Shh and -catenin expression levels gradually began to reduce in both groups after 3 week (data not shown), indicating that anagen phase of hair follicles was ceased (Datta et al., 2009). Further experiments are needed to identify active components in fermented Polygonum multiflorum extracts and to determine their mechanisms of action, which might be responsible for the hair promoting activity. In summary, it was reported for the first time that Polygonum multiflorum extract promoted hair growth by inducing anagen in telogenic C57BL6/N mice. In Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group, we observed an increase in the number and the size of hair follicles that is considered as evidence for anagen phase induction. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that -catenin and Shh were expressed earlier in Polygonum multiflorum extract treated group than that in control group. Taken together, these results suggest that Polygonum multiflorum extract promote hair growth by inducing anagen phase of hair follicles.
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