RE-ORGA, a Korean Herb Extract, Can Prevent Hair Loss Induced by Dihydrotestosterone in Human Dermal Papilla Cells

• Published in: Annals of dermatology Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 530 - 537
• Main Authors: Kang, Myung-Gyun, Park, Daeui, Han, Hyoung-Yun, Shim, Hyeeun, Hong, Yoonjung, Moon, Jiyeon, Yoon, Seokjoo, Kwon, Bosun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Dermatological Association; The Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology 01.10.2019; 대한피부과학회
• Subjects: Original; 피부과학; Dihydrotestosterone; Androgenic alopecia; Finasteride; Herbal extract; 5 alpha-reductase
• ISSN: 1013-9087; 2005-3894; 2005-3894
• DOI: 10.5021/ad.2019.31.5.530

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss. It is likely inherited genetically and is promoted by dihydrotestosterone. 5α-reductase has been proven a good target through finasteride use. However, the pathogenesis of AGA cannot be fully explained based only on dihydrotestosterone levels. To identify similar hairloss inhibition activity of RE-ORGA with mode of action other than finasteride. We prepared RE-ORGA from Korean herb mixtures. We performed MTT assays for cytotoxicity, Cell Counting Kit-8 assays for cell proliferation, and western blot to identify expression levels of 5α-reductase and Bax. RNA-sequencing was performed for the expression patterns of genes in dihydrotestosterone-activated pathways. Anti-inflammatory activity was also assessed by the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6. REORGA could promote the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells and showed low cytotoxicity. It also inhibited the expression of 5α-reductases and Bax in the cells. RNA-sequencing results verified that the mRNA expressions of , Bax, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and TGF-β1 induced transcript 1 (TGFβ1I1) were decreased, whereas expression of protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (PTK2β) was more elevated. REORGA also showed anti-inflammatory activity through decreased mRNA levels of TNF-α. Transcriptionally, up-regulation of PTK2β and concomitant down-regulation of TGFβ1I1 imply that RE-ORGA can modulate androgen receptor sensitivity, decreasing the expression of 5α-reductase type II and Bax together with TGF-β1 transcripts; RE-ORGA also showed partial anti-inflammatory activity. Overall, RE-ORGA is expected to alleviate hair loss by regulating 5α-reductase activity and the receptor's androgen sensitivity.