Examining the Effect of Notocactus ottonis Cold Vacuum Isolated Cell Extract on Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice using a Combination of Physiology and OMICS analyses

This study focuses on the hair-growing effects of a cell extract (CE) obtained from the cactus Notocactus ottonis by a cold vacuum extraction protocol, with the aim of investigating its hair-growing effects and relevant mechanisms and potential factors therein. In an experiment using male C57BL/6 mice, a vehicle control group (VC: propylene glycol : ethanol : water), a positive control group (MXD : 3% minoxidil), and an experimental group (N-CE: 10% N. ottonis CE) were applied topically to the backs of mice. Results showed that 3% MXD and 10% N-CE were more effective in promoting hair growth than the VC. Furthermore, an increase in the number of hair follicles was observed with 10% N-CE in hematoxylin-eosin-stained skin tissue. Whole genome DNA microarray was carried out on the skin samples (the back whole skin tissue of C57BL/6J mice was ground into a fine powder in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C until RNA isolation, and total RNA was extracted from powdered mouse skin tissue using the RNeasy Mini Kit ) to suggest molecular factors underlying the hair-promoting effects of N-CE. Total RNA extracted from mouse skin tissue for each control and treatment (n=6) was pooled in each group, prior to DNA microarray analysis.