Effects of Yikgeebohyul-Tang on Hair Growth Promotion and Cytokine Changes in C57BL/6 Mice

In 2010, a study was conducted on 18 female C57BL6 mice to investigate the effects of Yikgeebohyul-tang (Yiqib?xue-t?ng), a prescription for invigoration of vitality and nourishing of the blood, on hair regrowth and cytokine changes. The mice were divided into two groups: a control group treated with normal saline and a sample group treated with Yikgeebohyul-tang extract. The compounds were topically applied once a day for 14 days. The results showed that hair regrowth in the sample group was promoted earlier and faster than the control group. EGF was strongly positive in the outer root sheath of some thick hair of the sample group. Serum IFN-γ was significantly decreased in the sample group compared with the control group at 7 experimental days, and serum IL-4 was significantly increased in the sample group compared with the control group at 7 experimental days. The study concluded that Yikgeebohyul-tang has hair growth promoting activity and could be used for the treatment of alopecia.