Hair Growth Promoting Effects of Geranium Sibiricum L Extract on Human Dermal Papilla Cells Under Glucocorticoid-Induced Stress Condition

A decade ago, a study was conducted to investigate the hair growth promoting effects of Geranium Sibiricum L extract (GSE) on human dermal papilla cells (hDPC) under stress conditions induced by synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone, DEX). The study found that GSE promoted the proliferation and migration of hDPC, particularly at a concentration of 19.5 ppm. The GSE and DEX co-treatment group showed more Ki 67 positive cells (a marker of cell proliferation) than the normal condition group. The GSE group had the highest expression of HGF (a hair growth promoting cytokine), and the lowest expression of TGF-β1 (a hair growth inhibition cytokine). The GSE and DEX co-treatment group expressed 12 times more HGF than the DEX group and 25.8% lower TGF-β1 than the DEX treatment group. These results suggested that GSE could promote hair growth by suppressing TGF-β1 and elevating HGF expression under stressful conditions.