Ethanol Extract of Medicinal Herbal Mixture Accelerates Hair Growth and Melanogenesis In Vivo and In Vitro

The study examined the effects of an ethanol extract from a medicinal herbal mixture (SHJ) on hair growth and melanogenesis in C57BL/6 mice and melanoma cells. SHJ was applied topically for 15 days and compared to a vehicle-treated group and a 5% minoxidil-treated group. Results indicated that SHJ increased hair density and thickness, similar to minoxidil, and enhanced the expression of IGF-1 and VEGF while reducing TGF-B1. SHJ also increased melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The findings suggested that SHJ could be a potential natural ingredient in cosmeceuticals for promoting hair growth and pigmentation without cytotoxic effects.