In vitro and split-faced placebo-controlled in vivo study on the skin rejuvenating effects of cream loaded with bioactive extract of Indigofera argentea Burm.f.

The bioactive extracts of traditional medicinal plants are rich in polyphenols and help to rejuvenate skin. The study was designed to assess the skin rejuvenating effects of a stable cream enriched with 4% I. argentea (IaMe) extract. The quantity of polyphenols by spectrophotometric methods was TPC, 101.55 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content; 77.14 ± 0.13 mg QE/g, while HPLC-PDA revealed gallic acid; 4.91, chlorogenic acid 48.12, p-coumaric acid 0.43, and rutin 14.23 µg/g. The significant results of biological activities were observed as DPPH; 81.81% ± 0.05%, tyrosinase; 72% ± 0.23% compared to ascorbic acid (92.43% ± 0.03%), and kojic acid (78.80% ± 0.19%) respectively. Moreover, the promising sun protection effects Sun protection factor of extract (20.53) and formulation (10.59) were observed. The active cream formulation (w/o emulsion) was developed with liquid paraffin, beeswax, IaMe extract, and ABIL EM 90, which was stable for 90 days as shown by various stability parameters. The rheological results demonstrated the active formulation's non-Newtonian and pseudo-plastic characteristics and nearly spherical globules by SEM. The IaMe loaded cream was further investigated on human trial subjects for skin rejuvenating effects and visualized in 3D skin images. Herein, the results were significant compared to placebo. IaMe formulation causes a substantial drop in skin melanin from -1.70% (2 weeks) to -10.8% (12 weeks). Furthermore, it showed a significant increase in skin moisture and elasticity index from 7.7% to 39.15% and 2%-30%, respectively. According to the findings, Indigofera argentea extract has promising bioactivities and skin rejuvenating properties, rationalizing the traditional use and encouraging its exploitation for effective and economical cosmeceuticals.

Naringenin improves the healing process of thermally-induced skin damage in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of the phenolic compound naringenin on thermal burn-induced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in rats. Methods First degree thermal burn injuries were induced in shaved rats by 10 s immersion of the back surface in water at 90℃. Naringenin treatment (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day) was initiated 24 h following burn injury, and continued for 7 days. On treatment day 7, serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin (PG)E2, caspase-3, leukotriene (LT)-B4 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB levels were quantified. Skin sample glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, were also measured. Results Serum inflammatory biomarkers were significantly increased in thermal-burn injured rats versus uninjured controls. Naringenin significantly inhibited the increased proinflammatory markers at day 7 of treatment. Increased TBARS levels and decreased GSH levels in wounded skin were significantly restored by naringenin treatment at day 7. SOD, catalase, GPx and GST activities were markedly inhibited in wounded skin tissues, and were significantly increased in naringenin-treated rats. Conclusion Naringenin treatment showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in rats with thermal burn-induced injury.

Anti-osteoporotic effects of an antidepressant tianeptine on ovariectomized rats.

In the current investigation, the potential alleviating effects of tianeptine against bone loss induced in ovariectomized (OVX) rats was determined. Two weeks following a bilateral ovariectomy operation, tianeptine treatment (12.5 and 25mg/kg/twice/d) was initiated and continued for twenty-eight consecutive days. Changes in serum and urinary bone turnover biomarkers and osteoclastogenesis-inducing factors were estimated. The femoral bone mineral content was estimated using inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry. Morphometric alterations of distal femoral bones were observed in the cortical and trabecular structures using micro-CT. Finally, femur bones were assessed for histopathological changes. The lack of estrogen significantly increased the levels of bone turnover biomarkers and inflammatory mediators. Mineral concentrations in the femoral bones were reduced in the OVX group. Furthermore, the femoral bone micro-architecture determined using micro-CT and histopathology were significantly altered by estrogen deficiency. Tianeptine, particularly the higher dose, corrected the elevated levels of bone metabolic products and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Tianeptine also improved mineral concentrations in femoral bones and the disturbed morphometric and histopathological features in OVX rats. In conclusion, tianeptine alleviated the osteoporotic changes in OVX animals, which may be via inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stress and osteoclastogenesis-provoking factors, suggesting attenuation of bone matrix degradation and osteoclast stimulation.

Efficacy and safety of oral mega pulse methylprednisolone for severe therapy resistant Alopecia areata.

OBJECTIVE: To use intensive regimen of pulse steroid in the severe forms of Alopecia areata. METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2003 to 2009. Patients with Alopecia universalis, Alopecia totalis, or Alopecia ophiasis were assigned to one of the 3 treatment groups: Group A received oral mega pulse methylprednisolone (MP) for 3 consecutive days once every 2 weeks for 24 weeks; Group B received 2 consecutive daily pulses every 3 weeks; and Group C received 3 consecutive daily pulses every 3 weeks. Patients who showed regrowth of 75% or more at 24 or 36 weeks continued their treatment, while intervals were increased gradually. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included in this study, and 52.4% of them had atopic diathesis, while 35.7% had autoimmune thyroiditis. At 36 weeks, 12 (28.6%) patients had adequate response, 9 (21.4%) had inadequate response, and 21 (50%) patients had poor response. The response rate shows no statistically significant difference between treatment groups. There were statistically significant differences in age of onset, duration of the disease, and presence of subclinical hypothyroidism between different response groups. At follow-up: 13 (38.2%) patients relapsed; 5 (14.7%) patients developed moderate hair fall; 3 (8.8%) patients developed mild hair fall; 7 (20.1%) patients maintained their hair regrowth; and 6 (17.6%) patients were lost follow up. It was relatively well-tolerated among groups B and C. CONCLUSION: Oral mega pulse MP use in severe forms of Alopecia areata has relative efficacy and tolerance but with high relapse rate.