Source for Japanese products

[Jacob]

http://en.rakuten.co.jp/

Too bad it's not all in English..and what is in English- is from an online translator.

Some I found interesting:

loquat leaf extract.. http://en.item.rakuten.com/grsv/707mo2_sh1/

http://en.item.rakuten.com/2han/103-4274/

http://en.item.rakuten.com/genky/clbg7193/

http://en.item.rakuten.com/yoshihashi/584328/

This one is a "bowl cap".."Refreshing revival of head pores in the carbonic acid concentration Shuwatsu"
http://en.item.rakuten.com/hnavi/c16916/

..and this one a bit amusing(see the "warning")
http://en.item.rakuten.com/parusu/10000604/

[Jacob]

On loquat leaf:

RT-PCR analysis of hair growth cycle related cytokines showed loquat leaf extract and corosolic acid up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of FGF-7, VEGF, BMP-2 and down-regulated that of FGF-5 in dermal papilla cells. It suggests that the loquat leaf extract and corosolic acid relates to hair growth by regulation of several growth factors in dermal papilla cells. We show here the molecular regulation of hair growth factors and cytokines by loquat leaf extract and corosolic acid, and describe the possibility for hair growth material.

http://www.personalcaremagazine.com/Sto ... Story=1911

A patent with the use of corosolic acid: http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=2006090613

Disclosed is a hair cosmetic comprising a substance having an inhibitory effect against testosterone 5&agr;-reductase, an effect of promoting the hair papilla cell growth, an effect of promoting the fibroblast growth factor-7 production, an effect of promoting the vascular endothelial growth factor production or an effect of promoting the bone forming factor-2 production. Also disclosed is a medicated hair tonic, a testosterone 5&agr;-reductase inhibitor, a hair papilla cell growth promoter, a fibroblast growth factor-7 production promoter, a vascular endothelial growth factor production promoter or a bone forming factor-2 production promoter comprising the substance as an active ingredient. The hair cosmetic has corosolic acid blended therein. The medicated hair tonic, testosterone 5&agr;-reductase inhibitor, hair papilla cell growth promoter, fibroblast growth factor-7 production promoter, vascular endothelial growth factor production promoter or bone forming factor-2 production promoter comprises corosolic acid as an active ingredient