In Vitro hair growth and hair tanning activities of mangosteen pericarp extract on hair dermal papilla cells

Abstract

Premature hair graying and hair loss in men and women can cause a serious aesthetic problem. However, not much effective treatment is available, especially from natural sources. In this study, the efficacy of mangosteen pericarp water extract in promoting hair growth and tanning activities on hair dermal papilla cells was studied by using in vitro assays. The proliferation and cytotoxicity study on hair dermal papilla cells treated with mangosteen pericarp extract were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)− 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Sulforhodamine B assay. The degree of hair dermal papilla cells proliferation increased with increasing concentration of the extract up to 500 μg/ml of extract treatment. The cell proliferation significantly increased by 157.56 % compared to the control with 500 μg/ml of extract treatment. The mangosteen pericarp extract was found to stimulate melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity of hair dermal papilla cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The melanin synthesis in hair dermal papilla cells was upregulated more than four-fold with mangosteen pericarp extract as compared to the control group. The mangosteen pericarp extract was more potent and better in comparison with known effective melanogenic agents such as α-melanocyte stimulating hormone and forskolin in inducing the melanogenic effects of hair dermal papilla cells.