Objective To investigate the effect of water soluble extracts of some traditional Chinese herbs on hair growth of pig hair
follicle in vitro. Methods Pig hair follicles were cultured with Williams E medium (control group) or Williams E medium with water soluble extracts of Chinese herbs (
experimental group). Hair growth and morphological changes in the
hair follicle bulb were observed by microscope, and apoptosis of the pig hair follicle cells was detected by a TUNEL technique. Results On day 7 of culture, the hair growth in the control group was slower than that in the experimental group (P < 0.001), and apoptosis in hair follicle in the control group was significantly more than that in the experimental group (P < 0.001). The morphology study showed that catagen/telogen stages occurred in the hair follicles in the control group, while the hair follicles in the experimental group were still maintaining in anagen stages. Conclusion These results suggest that water soluble extracts of some traditional Chinese herbs can partially inhibit the apoptosis of the pig hair follicle cells and delay the development from anagen stages to catagen/telogen stages of hair follicles.