Protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng against chemotherapeutic drug-induced premature catagen development assessed with human hair follicle organ culture model

• Published in: Journal of ginseng research Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 169 - 175
• Main Authors: Keum, Dong In, Pi, Long-Quan, Hwang, Sungjoo Tommy, Lee, Won-Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Elsevier B.V 01.04.2016; 고려인삼학회; Elsevier
• Subjects: alopecia; chemotherapy; hair growth; Korean Red Ginseng; 기타의약학; Korean Red Ginseng; alopecia; hair growth; chemotherapy
• ISSN: 1226-8453; 2093-4947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2015.07.004

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the most distressing side effects for patients undergoing chemotherapy. This study evaluated the protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on CIA in a well-established in vitro human hair follicle organ culture model as it occurs in vivo. We examined whether KRG can prevent premature hair follicle dystrophy in a human hair follicle organ culture model during treatment with a key cyclophosphamide metabolite, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC). 4-HC inhibited human hair growth, induced premature catagen development, and inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of hair matrix keratinocytes. In addition, 4-HC increased p53 and Bax protein expression and decreased Bcl2 protein expression. Pretreatment with KRG protected against 4-HC-induced hair growth inhibition and premature catagen development. KRG also suppressed 4-HC-induced inhibition of matrix keratinocyte proliferation and stimulation of matrix keratinocyte apoptosis. Moreover, KRG restored 4-HC-induced p53 and Bax/Bcl2 expression. Overall, our results indicate that KRG may protect against 4-HC-induced premature catagen development through modulation of p53 and Bax/Bcl2 expression.