Extracts of Isochrysis sp

A method for increasing growth of human hair in a human in need thereof, consisting essentially of:

• (i) cultivating Tahitian Isochrysis sp. cells;
• (ii) harvesting the cells to obtain completely or substantially intact cell material;
• (iii) extracting the completely or substantially intact cell material with a liquid extractant selected from the group consisting of hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, water, methanol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof for up to 24 h at a temperature of not more than 50° C. to provide an extracted cell material;
• (iv) separating the extract from the extracted cell material;
• (v) applying topically to the hair of the human in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of the extract of Tahitian Isochrysis sp. to increase said growth of the human hair, wherein the extract of Tahitian Isochrysis is obtained by the method consisting essentially of the above steps;
• and
• (vi) increasing said growth of human hair in said human in need thereof.