In vivo hair growth-promoting efficacies of herbal extracts and their cubosomal suspensions

In vivo hair growth-promoting efficacies of 6 kinds of herbal extracts (obtained from Poria cocos, Thuja orientalis, Espinosilla, Lycium chinense Mill, Coix lacryma-jobi and Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg) and monoolein cubosomal suspensions containing the extracts were investigated after they were daily applied on the backs of C57BL/6 male mice for 20 days in the herbal extract concentration of 3% and the cubosome concentration of 1%. The hair growth-promoting efficacies were evaluated 0 day, 10 days, 15 days, and 20 days after the application through the hair re-growth area and the histological observation of hair follicles. Among them, Thuja orientalis extract, Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg extract, and Espinosilla extract showed some hair-growth promoting efficacy. Cubosomes significantly enhanced the efficacies of the herbal extracts, and the cubosomal suspensions containing the extracts were as potent as Minoxidil solution (2.4%) in propylene glycol/water/ethanol (20/30/50, v/v/v). Cubosome is believed to enhance the skin permeation of the herbal extracts.