News ReleaseNov. 7, 2019

Discovery of Highly Effective Components for Aging
BacteriaTM Present on the Scalp~Successfully Suppressing Aging of the Hair and the Scalp~
Milbon Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Ryuji Sato) has successfully developed an innovativetechnology that can suppress the aging of the scalp and hair. Their technology focuses on theAging BacteriaTM in the scalp flora*1.
Various bacteria are present on the scalp, and these are collectively referred to as the scalp
flora. Although scalp flora is likely to affect the hair and scalp, most of actual effects of the scalpflora remain unidentified. We previously discovered that the genus Enterococcus*2 in the scalp
flora promote aging of the hair and scalp*3 and named them Aging BacteriaTM (in Japanese:Rokakin).
(Reference: Jun. 25, 2019 “Received the “Young Scientist Support Scheme” at the 14th AsianSocieties of Cosmetic Scientists (ASCS) Conference in Hong Kong”

https://www.milbon.co.jp/english/ir/upload_file/m000/Received_the_Young_Scientist_Suppor
t_Scheme_at_the_14th_ASCS_Conference_in_HongKong.pdf）
Thus, although the relationship of Aging BacteriaTM with the hair and scalp has been clarifiedvia previous research conducted by our company, further investigation is necessary to identify
the effective components for suppressing Aging BacteriaTM influences on the scalp and hair.
Therefore, based on our previous findings, we investigated the methods of reducing the growthof Aging BacteriaTM and improving the condition of the scalp after it has been affected by Aging
BacteriaTM, and eventually, were able to identify components that would help us achieve thisgoal.
We expect that highly effective hair care products can be developed using our technology,
which can inhibit the bad effects of Aging BacteriaTM.
Our research results were reported at the following academic meetings. These findings will
be applied to hair and scalp care products available for sale from next spring.
External Publication
Poster session of the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society
Presentation title: Identified Bacteria Colonizing on Scalp Accelerates Aging of Scalp and Hair
Presentation date: September 20, 2019
Research Background
With the increase in the aging population in developed countries, there has been an increasein the demand for hair care products that can inhibit aging of the hair and scalp year by year.
Many Japanese women, who tend to have thick and straight hair, experience problems with-1-News Releaserespect to hair quality because aging reduces hair stiffness, resulting in hair appearing wavy
and hardening. Owing to these conditions, the hairstyles are limited for these women. However,No definite method for essential resolving these issue has been developed now.
We previously conducted a large-scale survey on the hair and scalp with over 3,000 Japanesewomen and found that women with progressive aging of the hair and scalp had a lot ofEnterococcus on their scalp. We have clarified that Enterococcus promotes aging of scalp cells
and can affect hair formation (Figure 1). Thus, to inhibit age-related changes in the hair andscalp, we developed technology that can suppress effects of Enterococcus presents on the scalp.

Research Results
We investigated various components from the following three points to inhibit age-relatedchanges in the hair and scalp by suppressing effects of Enterococcus.
1. Inhibiting the growth of Enterococcus
Scalp flora is constituted of various bacteria in addition to Enterococcus maintaining adelicate balance. Therefore, a component that can sterilize all the bacteria on the scalp would
not be ideal. Thatʼs the reason why we needed to find a component that would only inhibit
the growth of Enterococcus. After investigating various components, we discovered that theaddition of a certain concentration of glycine*4 enabled the inhibition of the growth of onlyEnterococcus (Figure 2A).
2. Reducing the aging-promoting components produced by Enterococcus
We confirmed that Enterococcus produces components that promote aging; therefore, weattempted to identify components that could inhibit the production of aging-promotingcomponents. Consequently, we discovered that phytic acid*5 had marked inhibitory effects(Figure 2B).
3. Inhibiting cellular aging
In a previous study, we found that the aged scalp cells had an inhibitory effect on the growthof hair follicle cells that control hair formation. In addition to bacteria effects, cellular aging
needs to be inhibited for effective suppression of age-related changes in the hair. As a resultof investigating components that could inhibit cellular aging, we discovered that magnesiumascorbyl phosphate*6 and δ-tocopherol*7 are particularly effective (Figure 2C).
We prepared a scalp serum containing the four above-mentioned components; 10 female
monitors continuously used it for 6 months. As a result, we confirmed that the percentage ofEnterococcus in the scalp flora decreased, hair loss reduced, and torsional rigidity modulus*8 of
newly grown hair increased (Figure 3). In the future, Milbon Co., Ltd will develop hair and scalp
care products focusing on scalp flora utilizing this technology to help affected women with limited
hairstyles, and result in keeping their hair beautiful throughout their lives.
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Photographs ofaged hair

Figure 1. Mechanism by which Enterococcus promotes aging

Inhibition of the production of aging-Glycine added

Time (h)Not added

Phytic acid added

Time (min)Progression of cellular aging (%)

Not added

Amount of aging-promoting components

Bacterial growthof cellular aging

BacteriaTM(OD)

Aging Bacteria

Inhibition of the progression

promoting components by Aging

TMFigure 2. Results of effect of various componentsAδ-tocopherol added

Inhibition of the growth ofascorbyl

Aged scalp cells inhibit the growth of hair follicle cells.

phosphate added②MagnesiumEnterococcus ages scalp cells.

Not added①Inhibitory effect of glycine on the growth of Enterococcus. The addition of glycine suppresses the growthof Enterococcus.

B

Suppressing effect of phytic acid on the production of aging-promoting components by Enterococcus.
The addition of phytic acid results in almost no production of aging-promoting components otherwise
produced normally.

CInhibitory effects of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and δ-tocopherol on the progression of cellular aging.
Decreases in cellular β-galactosidase activity*9 are found with the addition of these components thanthose with no addition; such addition thereby suppresses the progression of cellular aging.

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Period of continuous use(months)

Period of continuous use (months)

modulus of newly grown hair

Torsional rigidity

during hair washing

Number of hairs loss

on the scalp (%)

ofEnterococcus

Percentage

Improved stiffness of
newly grown hair

Decreased number of hairs loss
during hair washing

Decreased Aging BacteriaTM
in scalp flora

Period of continuous use (months)Figure 3. Results of the effects of continuous use of scalp serum containing components《Definition of Terms》※1 Scalp flora
Bacteria referred to as resident bacteria are present in all areas throughout the human body.
The resident bacteria on the scalp are termed as scalp flora. As in plants, resident bacteria growin colonies to form bacterial plexuses. Therefore, these are referred to as flora and bacterial
plexuses on the scalp are called scalp flora.
※2 The genus Enterococcus
These bacteria are lactic acid bacteria and spherical. Although there have been reports of thesebacteria being present in the gastrointestinal tract or oral cavity, they have not previously
garnered attention as resident bacteria on areas of the body surface, such as the skin or scalp.
※3 Aging of the hair and scalp
The symptoms of aging of the hair include increased number of gray hairs; decreased hairamount per unit area; increased thin hair; increased wavy hair; loss of shine, and stiffness; anddecreased resistance to damage. The symptoms of aging of the scalp include increased hair loss,
yellowing and browning of the scalp color, and decreased scalp flexibility.
※4 Glycine
This amino acid is present in large quantities in the human body. Its uptake into the cell wall ofbacteria inhibits cell division; therefore, it is used as a bacteriostatic agent in foods. It does notaffect animal or human cells because these cells do not have cell walls. Occasionally, glycine isused as a moisturizing ingredient in cosmetic products.
※5 Phytic acid
This component is contained in large amounts in plants and particularly in seeds and has theproperty to bind to iron. Enterococcus needs iron to produce aging-promoting components;
phytic acid can inhibit this function.
-4-News Release※6 Magnesium ascorbyl phosphateThis is a derivative of vitamin C. It inhibits cellular aging through its antioxidant effects.
※7 δ-Tocopherol
This is a type of vitamin E. Similar to magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, it inhibits cellular aging
via antioxidant actions. It is also known that vitamin E and vitamin C have synergistic effects.
※8 Torsional rigidity modulus of hairThis is a physical property of hair that is related to stiffness.
※9 β-galactosidase activity
An enzyme that breaks down some sugars; it is widely used as a marker of cellular aging. βgalactosidase activity is known to increase with aging.

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Phone: +81‐3‐3517‐3915, Fax: +81‐3‐3273‐3211
Milbon Co., Ltd. / Head Office: Chuo‐ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Ryuji Sato; Securities Code: 4919 (First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange)-5-