Evaluation of hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract

Abstract

For the evaluation of the hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract, the study
was aimed to investigate the hair growth promoting activity of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit extract. Objective:
We examined the effect of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit extract for the hair growth promoting activity, which
has been traditionally used for treating hair loss. Materials and Methods: The mice were divided into four
groups the extract and minoxidil were applied over the shaved skin surface on to the backs of mice and
monitored for 30 days. Results: The extract of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit when tested for the hair growth
activity was assed by studying hair length and microscopic study of follicles in vehicle control, 2% minoxidil
treated and extract treated animals. Conclusion: The fi ndings suggest that extract of M. paradisiaca unripe
fruit has potential as a hair growth promoter.

Full text

JOURNAL OF NATURAL
PHARMACUETICALS
An Official Publication of
Pharmacognosy Network Worldwide [Phcog.Net]
Vol 2 | Issue 3 | Jul-Sep 2011
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ISSN: 2229-5119
Edited by: Dr. Ilkay Orhan
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Faculty of Pharmacy
Gazi University 06330 Ankara,
TURKEY
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CONTENTS
Message from the Editor
Evaluation of hair growth promoting
activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit
extract
Effect of oral administration of ethanolic
root extract of Tinospora cordifolia on
aflatoxin B -induced toxicity in swiss
1
albino mice
Flavonoids inhibited NADPH consumption
and ecdysis processes in Oncopeltus
fasciatus
The genus Xanthorrhoea (Australian grasstrees) (collectively
known as curare, a South American arrow poison) from
Chondrodendron tomentosum. Photograph taken in Toohey
Forest, Brisbane Australia
by Dr. Ian Cock.
Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals • Volume 2 • Issue 2 • April-June 2011 • Pages 47-118

Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals, Volume 2, Issue 3, July-September, 2011
120
Address for
correspondence:
Prof. Anil Sidram Savali,
RMES’s College of
Pharmacy, Department
of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Old Jewargi
Road, Balaji Nagar,
Gulbarga – 585 102,
Karnataka, India.
E-mail: anil.savali@
gmail.com
Departments of
Pharmacology and Toxicology,
1Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
2Pharmaceutics,
RMES’S College of Pharmacy,
Gulbaraga, Karnataka, India
Evaluation of hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca
unripe fruit extract
Anil Sidram Savali, Somnath Devidas Bhinge1, Hariprasanna R Chitapurkar2
ABSTRACT
For the evaluation of the hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract, the study
was aimed to investigate the hair growth promoting activity of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit extract. Objective:
We examined the effect of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit extract for the hair growth promoting activity, which
has been traditionally used for treating hair loss. Materials and Methods: The mice were divided into four
groups the extract and minoxidil were applied over the shaved skin surface on to the backs of mice and
monitored for 30 days. Results: The extract of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit when tested for the hair growth
activity was assed by studying hair length and microscopic study of follicles in vehicle control, 2% minoxidil
treated and extract treated animals. Conclusion: The fi ndings suggest that extract of M. paradisiaca unripe
fruit has potential as a hair growth promoter.
Key words: Hair growth promotion, hair length and hair follicles, Musa paradisiaca, 2% minoxidil
INTRODUCTION
As to keep hair intact is the fi rst and the
foremost duty of Sikh. As in mammals hair
play a vital role in thermal insulation, for
social and sexual communication, and is
protective appendages on the body and
considered accessory structure of the
integument along with sebaceous glands,
sweat glands, and nails.[1] Humans are
relatively hairless compared to other
mammals and human hair has no known
signifi cance for survival of species.[2] Hair
loss is one the dermatological disorder to
human race being common throughout
the world, and is of great concern for
decades.[2] Hair growth is a complex
and cyclically controlled process that is
characterized by a fi nite period of hair fi ber
production, a brief regression phase and a
resting period.[3] The precise mechanism
of regulating hair growth cycle has not
yet been fully understood.[3] Many factors
such as metabolism, hormones, heredity,
and side effect of antineoplastics and
immunosuppressant drugs have been
negatively affecting the healthy growth of
hair.[2]
Use of minoxidil and finasteride for the
treatment of hair loss and hair thinning have
shown their side effects.[2] In this respect,
alternatives have attracted interest. These
crises lead to the search for natural products
from plant origin possessing potential hair
growth. The folklore claim of medicine in
India acclaims the hair growth promotion
of medicinal plants belonging to various
families, but lack of scientific literature
limited the use of these plants among the
community.
M. paradisiaca Linn plant belongs to the
family Musaceae. The plant is mostly found
in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jalgaon
district (Maharashtra), West Bengal, and
Tamil Nadu. Traditionally the plant was
used for different purposes such as abscess,
alopecia (female), anasarca, burns, cancer,
cataplasm, diabetes, diarrhea, dog bites,
dysentery, dyspepsia, cruptions, fractures,
gangrene, headache, hematuria, hemiplegia,
hemoptysis, hemorrhage, hypertension,
lizard bites, mange, marasmus, migraine,
nausea, otalgia, psoriasis, ringworm,
scorpion sting, septicemia, shingles,
smallpox, snake bite, sore, strain, syphilis,
tuberculosis, tumor, uremia, urticaria,
JNP_17_11R4 Original Article
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DOI:
DOI: 10.4103/2229-5119.86257
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Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals, Volume 2, Issue 3, July-September, 2011 121
warts, and wound.[4,5] Based on these traditional uses
of the plant we investigate the fruit extract for its hair
growth promoting activity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant material
The unripe fruits of M. paradisiaca procured from the
local area of Gulbarga in October 2010. M. paradisiaca
authenticated by regional Medical council of India,
Belgaum, India. The unripe fruit was spiced and dried in
the shade, powdered to a coarse consistency and stored
in an airtight container at room temperature.
Preparation of plant extract
The dried and powdered fruit was soxhlet extracted with
methanol and aqueous. The extract was weighed after
solvent elimination under reduced pressure. The percent
yield of the extract was found to be 8% and 10% of the
methanolic and aqueous, respectively.
Animals
Swiss Albino mice of either sex weighing 18–25 gm
were used for hair growth studies. These animals were
maintained under standard conditions in the animal
house of RMES’s College of Pharmacy, Gulbarga. The
animals were provided with standard diet Ad libitum tap
water. All the experiments using animals were carried
out as per guidelines of IAEC (341/5a/CPCSEA) of college,
after the approval dated 31 January 2008.
In vivo
hair growth activity
The mice were divided into three groups of three mice
each. A 4 cm2 area of hair from dorsal portion of all mice
was shaved with electric hair clippers. 0.2 ml of 1% fruit
extracts in 50% of ethanol were applied to denuded area
of the respective groups once a day, a standard group
received 2% minoxidil solution[6] and a control group
received vehicle treatment. This treatment was continued
for 30 days and during this course the hair growth pattern
was observed.[1,3]
Hair length determination
Hairs were plucked randomly from the shaved area of all
mice on 20, 25, and 30 days after beginning the treatment.
The length of ten hair was measured and average length
was determined. The results were expressed as the mean
length  S.D. of ten hairs.[1,7]
Histological studies
Using method of Adhirajan et al., 2003, with slight
modifi cation, has done histological studies. One mouse
from each group was euthanicated on the thirtieth
day of the drug treatment. Skin biopsies were taken
from the shaved area and fi xed in 30% formalin buffer.
Tissues were embedded in paraffi n wax and sectioned
into uniform thickness of 10 m and were stained with
haematoxylin and eosin. From the sections, the number
of hair follicles per millimeter of the skin[8] and percent
ratio of different cyclic phases such as anagen and telogen
of hair follicles were determined using microscope fi tted
with an ocular micrometer facility.
Statistical analysis
All the values were expressed as mean ± S.E.M (n=3
in each group. Statistical analysis was performed
using student t-test. A value of P<0.05 was considered
statistically signifi cant.
RESULTS
In vivo
hair growth effect
It was observed that the hair growth was initiated from
the shaved area on 14 days in control; on standard- and
extract-treated animals the growth was initiated on sixth
and seventh day of treatment. As result shown in Table 1
and Figure 1, the whole denuded area of aqueous-extract-
treated mice has been covered at the end of the second
week, the standard- and methanolic-extract-treated mice
has been covered at the end of third week as compared
to control.
Measuring of hair length
As observed in Table 2 and Figure 2, and the results
shown in Figure 1, mice treated with aqueous and
methanolic extract produced greater effect on the hair
growth when compared standard and control group.
It was found that the length of hair of aqueous and
methanolic extract treated group measures 7.8±0.23
and 7.8±0.31mm as compared to standard (5.7±1.1) and
control group (5.5±0.29), respectively.
Histological studies
As shown in Table 3 and Figure 3, the skin biopsies
have shown the marked difference in the different cyclic
phases (anagen and telogen) of hair follicles in treated
and control mice. On the last day of treatment the control
group showed the 48% of follicles were in the anagen
phase, 60% of follicles in the minoxidil-treated group,
57% of follicles in the aqueous-treated group, and 62% of
follicles in the methanolic-extract-treated group showed
follicles in the anagen phase, respectively.
Table 1: Eff ect of Musa paradesiaca unripe fruit extract on the
qualita ve hair growth
Treatment (Topical) Hair growth (days) (mean± SEM)
Ini a on  me Comple on  me
Control 14±1.2 29±0.88
Minoxidil 6.7±1.5** 22±1.7**
Aqueous extract 6 ±0.58** 16±1.5***
Methanolic extract 6.3±1.2** 22±1.5***
*Signifi cant diff erence at P>0.05.
Savali,
et al
.: Hair growth promoting activity of
Musa paradisiaca

Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals, Volume 2, Issue 3, July-September, 2011
122
DISCUSSION
As to keep hair intact is the fi rst and the foremost
duty of Sikh. In mammal’s hair plays a vital role.[1]
Recently the number of men and women who suffered
from hair loss/ thinning is increasing. Therefore, it
is important to develop novel therapies that prevent
hair loss and enhance the hair growth. The two drugs
tropical minoxidil and oral Finasteride approved by
the food and drug administration for the treatment
of hair loss. But use of these drugs restricted because
of dermatological adverse effect of minoxidil[9,10] and
fi nasteride is not indicated for use in women.[11] In this
respect, alternative medicine has attracted interest.
Due to limited scientifi c and incomplete knowledge of
mechanisms involved, alternative medicine has be come
an increasingly, alternative approach worldwide.[12]
M. paradisiaca Linn plant belongs to family Musaceae.
Traditionally the plant was used for different actions
such as roots of M. paradisiaca are anthelmintic. Flowers
are astringent.[13] Fruits are mild laxative. It helps in
combating diarrhea and dysentery and promotes healing
of intestinal lesions in ulcerative colitis.[13] It is useful in
celiac disease, constipation, and peptic ulcer.[13] Unripe
fruit and cooked fl ower are useful in diabetes.[13] The
bananas have fl avonoids with the antioxidant activity.[14]
Different parts of the plant have the medicinal value.[5]
Topical application with the 0.2 ml of 1% fruit aqueous
and methanolic extracts of M. paradisiaca reduced the
time required for hair growth initiation and was superior
to the standard solution. The quality of hair in the extract-
treated groups was observed as soft and silky hairs. The
1% aqueous and methanolic extracts of M. paradisiaca
where the best in inducing hair growth initiation and
Minoxidil treatment comes next. The signifi cant increase
in length of hair follicle also supports the hair growth
promoting effect of the M. paradisiaca. In both mice
and human, the hair cycle is regulated by interplay of
stimulatory and inhibitory growth factors (Stennly paus
12 ml). The topical application of 5% minoxidil produced
approximately 10% conversion of telogen follicles into
the anagen follicles in macaque monkey and fuzzy
rats.[15] Minoxidil it is an antihypertensive drug. It was
postulated that they readily stimulate telogen buds and
transform them to larger anagen follicles than those in
Table 2: Eff ect of Musa paradesiaca unripe fruit extract on qualita ve
hair length
Treatment (topical) Hair length (mm) (mean SEM)
Control 5.50.24
Minoxidil 5.71.1*
Aqueous Extract 7.80.23**
Methanolic Extract 7.80.31**
*signifi cant diff erence at P>0.05.
Table 3: Eff ect of Musa paradesiaca unripe fruit extract on the
quan ta ve hair growth
Treatment (topical) A er 30 days (% of hair follicles)
Telogen
(mean± SEM)
Anagen
(mean± SEM)
Ra o
Control 541.2 480.88 1.25
Minoxidil 401.2 601.2 0.66
Aqueous Extract 431.5** 571.5** 0.75
Methanolic Extract 381.5** 621.5** 0.61
*signifi cant diff erence at P>0.05.
Figure 1: Eff ect of Musa paradesiaca unripe fruit extract on the qualita ve
hair growth
a
c
b
Savali,
et al
.: Hair growth promoting activity of
Musa paradisiaca

Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals, Volume 2, Issue 3, July-September, 2011 123
Figure 2: Hair growth promo ng eff ect of the M. paradesiaca in Swiss albino mice a er 30 days. (a) Ini ally shaved skin of mice. (b) Eff ect of vehicle
(control group). (c) Eff ect of 2% minoxidil solu on. (d) Eff ect of 1% aqueous extract. (e) Eff ect of 1% methanolic extract
a b c
d e
Figure 3: Histopathological studies, the number of hair follicles counted in subcu s. (a) Eff ect of vehicle (control group). (b) Eff ect of 2% minoxidil solu on.
(c) Eff ect of aqueous extract. (d) Eff ect of methanolic extract
a b
c d
Savali,
et al
.: Hair growth promoting activity of
Musa paradisiaca

Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals, Volume 2, Issue 3, July-September, 2011
124
the previous cycle.[7] Another report was that Minoxidil
induces proliferation of epithelial cells near the base
of hair follicles and may induce the vasodilation of
scalp blood vessels.[16] However, the exact mechanism of
stimulation of the hair growth was not known. Similarly,
in our study we have observed that the hair follicles may
periodically transform from telogen to the anagen phase
in all groups. At the end of the study, aqueous-extract-
treated group showed 57% of follicles in the anagen phase,
the methanolic extract treated group showed 62% of the
follicles in the anagen phase whereas the 2% minoxidil
treated group and the control group showed 60% and 48%
of follicles in the anagen phase, respectively.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the effect of M. paradisiaca unripe fruit
extract on the qualitative hair growth and length was
found to be more signifi cant as compared to standard and
control-group-treated animals. The quantitative effect of
M. paradisiaca unripe fruit extract defi nitely promotes
hair growth by inducing hair follicles in the anagen phase.
Animals treated with aqueous and methanolic extract of
M. paradisiaca showed better effi cacy as compared to the
control and standard group. The percentage of anagen
induction with methanolic extract of M. paradisiaca and
minoxidil were comparable. On the basis of similarities
observed between the minoxidil and the M. paradisiaca
studies, it is expected that M. paradisiaca will have
the similar hair growth activity as shown by minoxidil.
Further research is needed for structural elucidation
and identifying the mechanism of action responsible for
using M. paradisiaca as a potential hair growth promoter.
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Cite this article as: Savali AS, Bhinge SD, Chitapurkar HR. Evaluation of
hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract. J Nat
Pharm 2011;2:120-4.
Source of Support: Nil. Confl ict of Interest: None declared.
Savali,
et al
.: Hair growth promoting activity of
Musa paradisiaca