Peptides from Bombyx Fibroin Counter D-Galactose-induced Hair Aging in Mice

Abstract

Using proteases, we produced a peptide mixture from fibroin of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Mice received D-galactose by subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks to accelerate aging, and then received the peptide mix-ture orally for 7 weeks. In the mice aged with D-galac-tose, the coefficient of friction of hair increased significantly up to 1.6-fold, but in the mice subse-quently given the peptide mixture, it was normal. Scanning electron microscopy showed improved hair cuticles in the latter mice too. These results indicate that oral administration with peptides from Bombyx fibroin counters the aging of hair cuticles.