ISP’s yeast, corn and rice extracts enhance hair follicle marker expression in vitro to help consumers achieve stronger, healthier hair

Paris, France - April 13, 2010– Focused on strengthening and invigorating various components of the hair follicle as a way to achieve brilliant hair, ISP introduced the Vincience™ BiotHAIRapy line of biofunctional extracts. The new offerings work to target key components of the hair follicle, such as the outer and inner root sheath, the basement membrane and the hair matrix. Three new products - Dynagen™, Capauxein™ and Protectagen™ extracts - represent a dynamic approach to achieving more vibrant and healthier looking hair.

Extracted from yeast, corn, and rice, the new products in ex vivo testing demonstrated a significant impact on markers associated with the hair growth cycle, strand strength, follicle integrity and other aspects of hair vitality. This is achieved by boosting nutrition, increasing protein expression and markers of adult stem cells, helping defend against UV-induced damage and improving hair regeneration. Each of the three products is focused on a different area of hair wellness, but they all help to contribute to stronger and longer strands.

Supporting Growth Activities
Under normal conditions, the hair cycle is marked by three phases: anagen, catagen and telogen. The longest of the three, anagen is the active growth stage that can last up to seven years. During this time, root cells continuously divide and add to the hair shaft. At the end of this period, the follicle retreats into the short catagen phase, lasting 2 to 3 weeks, during which a club hair is formed. The follicle then proceeds to the telogen phase, in which the follicle rests for up to three months and hair is shed. ISP’s BiotHAIRapy range is designed to help support cellular activities associated with the anagen phase, when follicles are in the healthy growth stage. By focusing on nutrition, renewal, and protection, Dynagen, Capauxein, and Protectagen may help consumers achieve revitalized, more vibrant looking hair.

“To protect and beautify, our novel BiotHAIRapy technology is designed to promote follicles vitality,” explained Claude Dal Farra, Vice President of R&D. “Ensuring that hair follicles receive optimized nutrition, that signaling is unimpaired, and cellular differentiation is encouraged, are effective ways to achieve healthy looking and vibrant hair. Dynagen, Capauxein, and Protectagen extracts have been shown to significantly improve marker expressions associated with follicle growth and revitalization. We believe this innovative hair care technology offers product marketers many opportunities to deliver its unique benefits to consumers.”

Extracts up Close
Dynagen, the yeast extract, was designed to enhance the expression of proteins involved in the inner architecture of the hair. This may have an effect on boosting the expression of keratin 14 and 17, which have been shown to support hair strength and reinforce the hair structure. Additionally, in-vitro/ex-vivo testing has shown that Dynagen enhances the expression of K71 and trichohyalin, which aid in the physical stability and physiological strength of hair follicles. Furthermore, collagen I and IV and CD34 –associated with nutrition and cohesion – showed improved expression in vitro following the application of this extract.

Capauxein, the corn extract, was designed to help maintain the hair growth cycle and boost hair regeneration. It has been found to boost the expression of protein markers (laminin-5, b1 integrin, and fibronectin) in vitro related to communication and cell signaling in hair follicles; cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion (laminin-5, fibronectin only); and positively boost in vitro the markers P63, Ki67, and phospho histone-3 – all associated with hair growth and hair follicle renewal.

Designed to boost markers of stem cell activity and help natural defense against UV-induced damage, Protectagen has a demonstrated in vitro effect on markers associated with the anagen (growth) cycle. Based on ex vivo studies, Protectagen enhanced the expression of markers keratin 15 (involved in the early stage of keratinocyte differentiation), a6 integrin (one of the potential markers of hair follicle stem cells), b-catenin (involved in hair follicle growth and differentiation) and P63 (stem cell marker related to proliferative capacity to generate hair follicles, sebaceous glands and epidermis). Furthermore, it showed in vitro that it may help defend against harmful sun exposure, evidenced by maintenance of low expressed P53 markers, whose expression is typically dramatically increased with UV-induced damage.

“We believe these hair follicle-focused ingredients will help consumers achieve not only really beautiful hair but also strong, healthy strands that are fortified deep inside. Our BiotHAIRapy line is an innovative and exciting technology that elevates hair care products to new heights in performance and benefits,” said Jim Mish, Senior Vice President/General Manager Personal Care. “We are excited to be able to share this technology with the world today and look forward to working with product marketers to get BiotHAIRapy into the hands of consumers everywhere.”