Hair Growth Promoting Effects of Emodin in Telogenic C57BL/6 Mice

The study, conducted 7 years ago, investigated the hair growth promoting effects of emodin, an anthraquinone derivative from the roots of Rheum officinale Baill, on telogenic C57BL/6 N mice. After topically applying emodin to the shaved dorsal skin of the mice for 15 days, the researchers found that the groups treated with either minoxidil or emodin (0.01% or 0.1%) showed significant hair regrowth compared to the control group. Histological examination revealed that the number and morphology of hair follicles, including the subcutis depth, in the emodin and minoxidil groups markedly recovered relative to the control group. The study concluded that emodin has a similar hair growth promoting effect to minoxidil and could potentially be useful in the treatment of baldness or alopecia.