# Optimization of Bear Oil Extraction Process and Hair Growth Activity

## TL;DR

This study improves the extraction of bear grease and shows it promotes hair growth in mice.

## Contribution

A new enzymatic method for extracting bear grease with higher unsaturated fatty acid content and hair growth activity is presented.

## Key findings

- The optimized extraction method achieved an 81.89% extraction rate of bear grease.
- Enzymatic extraction produced bear grease with 67.51% unsaturated fatty acids, higher than traditional methods.
- Bear grease from the new method significantly promoted hair growth in mice (p < 0.01).

## Abstract

According to ancient Chinese books, bear grease has the effects of strengthening muscles and bones, which is beneficial for weakness, but there is relatively little research on it. Thus, the extraction of it is beneficial for compensating for research in this area. In this study, a uniform experimental design method was used to optimize the extraction process of bear grease by enzymatic hydrolysis extraction, and the extraction rate can reach 81.89% under optimized extraction conditions. Furthermore, the components of bear grease obtained by this study were analyzed by GC-MS, and the results showed that ursolic oil was rich in unsaturated fatty acids (67.51%), which was higher than that of the traditional method (66.92%). The composition of bear grease extracted by the enzymatic method was also better than that extracted by the traditional method. In addition, bear grease obtained in this study had the obvious activity of promoting hair growth. The length, weight, and number of hair follicles in the depilation area of mice in the high-dose group were significantly different from those in the blank group (p < 0.01). This study optimized the extraction process of bear grease and conducted a preliminary analysis of its fatty acid composition, which is expected to provide some reference for the development of the medicinal value of bear grease.