Development of Biocellulose Sheet Incorporating Aloe vera Gel Extract for Diabetic Wound Healing.

In this study, a biocellulose (BC) sheet containing Aloe vera gel extract (AE) was developed for application in healing chronic wounds, such as diabetic wounds. The BC sheet was produced by Acetobacter xylinum and then lyophilized to obtain dried sheets. A. vera gel was extracted by precipitation in 35% ammonium sulfate, lyophilized, dried, and incorporated into the BC sheet. The protein content of the AE was 12.32 ± 3.4% w/w, with a molecular weight of ∼20 kDa. The release of TNF-α from lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells was reduced by treatment with AE in a dose-dependent manner. The physicochemical and biological properties of the developed sheet were investigated. Morphological examination of the BC/AE sheet using scanning electron microscopy revealed the 3D construction of nanofibrils, which showed high porosity. The BC/AE sheet exhibited water absorption at 74%, and the release of proteins in the AE reached 97.23% at 4 h. The BC sheet incorporated with proteins in the AE at 283.78 ± 7.7 µg/cm2 can promote the wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The recovering skin in diabetic wounds treated with the BC/AE sheet exhibited a normal cell arrangement without fibrosis, as revealed by histological staining. The research findings indicate that the BC/AE sheet has potential for applications in wound dressings.

Antiacne and antiblotch activities of a formulated combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf powder, Garcinia mangostana peel extract, and Camellia sinensis leaf extract.

Objective: We compared the efficacy of an antiacne hydrogel formulated with a combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Garcinia mangostana peel extract, and Camellia sinensis leaf extract (AGC) at a ratio of 50:25:1 with a marketed 1% clindamycin gel (CG) formulation on antiacne and antiblotch activities. Methods: A single-center, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial was performed from November 2017 to April 2018. Sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne severity according to the the American Academy of Dermatology were enrolled for the study. Outcome end points were total acne lesions (TALs) and acne-severity index (ASI) by counting the inflamed lesions and comedones and skin colors using erythema and melanin values. Results: For TALss, a decrease (P<0.0001) in the number of total inflamed lesions from baseline was evidenced in AGC group, but not in the CG group. Higher reduction in mean ASI in the AGC group was seen than in the CG group. However, there was no statistically significant difference regarding reduction in ASI between the AGC and CG groups. For erythema, a remarked reduction in skin redness from baseline was clearly seen at day 3 (P<0.05) in the AGC group. No significant decrease in erythema values from baseline was seen in the CG group. A significant decrease (P=0.037) in mean melanin value from baseline was seen in the AGC group after 14 days of twice-daily use, but not in the CG group. Both products were well tolerated, with no reports of severe adverse events. Conclusion: An anti-acne hydrogel containing a combination of mangosteen rinds, aloe vera gel, and green tea-leaf extracts was superior to 1% clindamycin gel in antiacne and antiblotch activities when measured by TALs and erythema and melanin values.

Effect of Thai banana (Musa AA group) in reducing accumulation of oxidation end products in UVB-irradiated mouse skin.

SCOPE: Chronic UVB exposure causes skin disorders and cancer through DNA strand breaks and oxidation of numerous functional groups of proteins and lipids in the skin. In this study, we investigated the effects of Thai banana (Musa AA group, "Khai," and Musa ABB group, "Namwa") on the prevention of UVB-induced skin damage when fed to male ICR mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were orally fed banana (Khai or Namwa) fruit pulps at dose of 1mg/g body weight/day for 12weeks. The shaved backs of the mice were irradiated with UVB for 12weeks. The intensity dose of UVB-exposure was increased from 54mJ/cm2/exposure at week 1 to 126mJ/cm2/exposure at week 12. A significant increase in skin thickness, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation end products, and expression of MMP-1 was observed in UVB-irradiated mouse skin. A reduction in the accumulation of oxidation end products was found in the skin of UVB-irradiated mice receiving Khai. This occurred in conjunction with a reduction in MMP-1 expression, inhibition of epidermal thickening, and induction of γ-GCS expression. CONCLUSION: The dietary intake of Khai prevented skin damage from chronic UVB exposure by increased γ-GCS expression and reduced oxidation end products included carbonyls, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal.

Ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula fruit protects against UVB-induced skin damage.

CONTEXT: The fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) has been used for several therapeutic purposes in Thai folk medicines. Currently, the ethanol extracts containing antioxidant compounds have shown the ability to promote collagen synthesis. OBJECTIVE: This purpose of this work was to study the effects of the ethanol extract from T. chebula fruit on the inhibition of cutaneous photodamage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The viability of human skin fibroblasts after incubation with T. chebula at concentration 0.5-50 µg/mL for 24, 48 and 72 h was assessed by using sodium 3'-[(phenyl-amino)-carbonyl]-3,4,tetrazolium-bis(4-methoxy-6-notro)benzene-sulphonic acid hydrate (XTT). The levels of type I procollagen and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 produced by UVB-irradiated fibroblasts were determined by ELISA. Skin thickness and collagen content caused by long-term UVB irradiation in male ICR mice were determined from haematoxylin and eosin stained tissue sections and spectrophotometric measurement of hydroxyproline. RESULTS: The extract (0.5-50 µg/mL) had no effect on cell viability or morphology of the human fibroblasts. In vitro studies showed that the T. chebula extract reduced the UVB-induced MMP-1 and MMP-13 expression, whereas an increased production of type I procollagen was observed. In a UVB-irradiated animal model, male ICR mice with hair shaved were chronically exposed to UVB which lead to epidermal thickness and loss of hydroxyproline. However, these effects were fully prevented by the topical application of the T. chebula ethanol extract. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These data suggested that the T. chebula ethanol fruit extract is an efficacious pharmaceutical protectant of skin against photodamage.

Artocarpus altilis heartwood extract protects skin against UVB in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artocarpus altilis (Moreceae) has been widely used as a traditional folk medicine in Southeast Asia for the treatment of many diseases, including skin disorders, such as ulcers and dermatitis. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to investigate the ability of an artocarpin-enriched extract to prevent ultraviolet radiation B-induced photodamage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The content of artocarpin in the extract was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A DPPH assay was used to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of the extract, which was compared with those of l-ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol. Cytotoxicity and proliferation of cells treated with the extract were determined using XTT and BrdU assays, respectively. Human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes were pretreated with the extract for 24h and later irradiated with ultraviolet radiation B at 128 J/cm(2). The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 released from ultraviolet radiation B-irradiated keratinocytes and, MMP-1 and type-I procollagen produced by ultraviolet radiation B-irradiated fibroblasts were measured by ELISA and/or western blotting. The hairless skin of male mice (outbred ICR) was treated with the extract or l-ascorbic acid solution prior to exposure to ultraviolet radiation B irradiation. The dose of ultraviolet B irradiation was consecutively increased to 18, 36, 54, and 72 J/cm(2) at weeks 1-4, 4-7, 7-10, and 10-12, respectively. The epidermal thickness and collagen content in the skin of ultraviolet radiation B-irradiated mice were evaluated. RESULTS: The extract concentration of 50 µg/mL was not toxic and did not inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts. The pretreatment of fibroblasts with 50 µg/mL extract prior to ultraviolet radiation B irradiation attenuated MMP-1 production but did not affect type-I procollagen production. The extract also decreased the ultraviolet radiation B-induced production of TNF-α and IL-6 in keratinocytes. Moreover, the topical administration of the extract suppressed epidermal thickening and collagen loss in chronically ultraviolet radiation B-exposed skin in mice. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental study revealed that A. altilis extract suppresses structural alterations in skin damaged by ultraviolet radiation B irradiation. This suppression was, at least partially, mediated by decrease in MMP-1 production in fibroblasts and TNF-α and IL-6 productions in keratinocytes.