Composition and method for promoting hair growth

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and composition for promoting hair growth in a mammal which comprises a prostaglandin compound having two hetero atoms at the 15 position as an active ingredient thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for promoting hair growth in a mammalian subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a prostaglandin compound as shown by the following formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein L, M and N are hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy(lower)alkyl, lower alkanoyloxy or oxo, wherein at least one of L and M is a group other than hydrogen, and the five-membered ring may have at least one double bond; 
         A is —CH 3 , or —CH 2 OH, —COCH 2 OH, —COOH or a functional derivative thereof; 
         B is —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH≡CH— or 
         Z 1  and Z 2  are oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; 
         R 2  and R 3  are lower alkyl, which are optionally linked together to form lower alkylene; 
         R 1  is a saturated or unsaturated bivalent lower or medium aliphatic hydrocarbon residue, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, alkyl, hydroxy, oxo, aryl or heterocyclic group, and at least one of carbon atom in the aliphatic hydrocarbon is optionally substituted by oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; and 
         Ra is a saturated or unsaturated lower or medium aliphatic hydrocarbon, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, oxo, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, cyclo(lower)alkyl, cyclo(lower)alkyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, heterocyclic group or heterocyclic-oxy group; lower alkoxy; lower alkanoyloxy; cyclo(lower)alkyl; cyclo(lower)alkyloxy; aryl; aryloxy; heterocyclic group; heterocyclic-oxy group. 
       
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the prostaglandin compound is represented by the formula (II): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein L, M, A, B, Z 1 , Z 2 , R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are the same as  claim 1 , 
         X 1  and X 2  are hydrogen, lower alkyl, or halogen; 
         R 4  is a single bond or lower alkylene; and 
         R 5  is lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, cyclo(lower)alkyl, cyclo(lower)alkyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, heterocyclic group or heterocyclic-oxy group. 
       
     
     
         3 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said prostaglandin compound is 13,14-dihydro-15,15-ethylenedioxy-20-ethyl-PGF 2α  isopropyl ester. 
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said prostaglandin compound is 13,14-dihydro-15,15-ethylenedioxy-17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor-PGF 2α  isopropyl ester. 
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said prostaglandin compound is 13,14-dihydro-15,15-trimethylenedioxy-20-ethyl-PGF 2α  isopropyl ester. 
     
     
         6 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said prostaglandin compound is 13,14-dihydro-15,15-dimethoxy-20-ethyl-PGF 2α  isopropyl ester. 
     
     
         7 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said prostaglandin compound is 13,14-dihydro-15,15-ethylenedioxy-20-ethyl-PGF 2α  ethyl ester. 
     
     
         8 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the hair is selected from hair on the top of head, hair on armpits, hair on pubic area, eyelash, eyebrow, hair on eyelid, mustache, beard, hair on chest, hair on arms and hair on legs. 
     
     
         9 . The method as described in  claim 8 , wherein the hair is selected from hair on scalp, beard, hair on head, hair on pubic area, hair on upper lip, eyelash, eyebrow, and hair on eyelid. 
     
     
         10 . The method as described in  claim 8 , wherein the hair is hair on scalp. 
     
     
         11 . The method as described in  claim 8 , wherein the hair is eyelash.