Expression of differential genes involved in the maintenance of water balance in human skin by Piptadenia colubrina extract.

BACKGROUND: Hydration and integrity of the stratum corneum (SC) is an important determinant of skin appearance, metabolism, mechanical properties, and barrier function. The presence of aquaglyceroporins and envelope proteins are crucial to provide greater corneocyte cohesion to keep water and other moisturizers in the skin. AIMS: In this study, we evaluated the ability of Piptadenia colubrina, a plant native of South American rain forests, in the expression of genes involved in skin capacitance and SC integrity. METHODS: The expression of genes for aquaporin-3 (AQP3), loricrin, involucrin (INV), and filaggrin (FLG) was measured by real-time PCR, using an in vitro model of human keratinocytes incubated with concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/mL of a hydroglycolic extract of P. colubrina (HEPC). The amount of AQP3 protein was also tested by immunohistochemistry in human skin explants. Clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of a gel-cream containing HEPC on the glycerol index and skin capacitance. RESULTS: Hydroglycolic extract of P. colubrina increased both the expression and immunoreactivity of AQP3 in cultured keratinocytes and human skin explants. The gene induction to envelope proteins FLG and INV was also observed after cell incubation with HEPC. Skin capacitance was significantly improved in human volunteers under treatment with HEPC-containing cream. CONCLUSIONS: The extract of P. colubrina promotes cellular hydration and induces gene expression of envelope proteins providing greater corneocyte cohesion to keep water and other moisturizers in the skin and an appropriate epidermal adhesion. The in vitro findings were clinically confirmed and encourage the clinical use of this compound in skin care products.

Avaliação dos efeitos do oleo extraido dos grãos verdes de Coffea arabica L. e dos fitoesterois de Brassica campestris L na melhora da celulite e da gordura localizada / Study of the effects obtained with the oil extracted from the green seeds of Coffea arabica L. and phytoesterols of Brassica campestris L. in the cellulite improvement

Clinicamente, a celulite é definida como uma alteração na topografia da pele que ocorre principalmente em mulheres, na região pélvica, abdômen e membros inferiores, caracterizando-se pelo aspecto de "casca de laranja". Etiologicamente, celulite é definida como uma desordem metabólica localizada do tecido subcutâneo que provoca uma alteração na forma corporal, onde muitas estruturas são alteradas na derme, na micro circulação e, também, no tecido adiposo. Este fenômeno, por sua vez, está associado com modificações morfológicas, histoquímicas e bioquímicas na pele e resultam nas alterações que levam ao desconforto estético e à aparência clínica da celulite. Partes destas alterações decorrem do acúmulo de lipídeos no interior de adipócitos, células chave no equilíbrio lipólise-lipogênese, o qual é visto hoje como uma unidade glandular funcional capaz de promover uma relação direta com o sistema nervoso central. Pesquisas atuais indicam que a busca por substâncias capazes de promover a homeostase dermo-hipodérmica através de uma ação lipolítica direta, aliada ao estímulo da produção de fatores de crescimento, especialmente TGF-? e GM-CSF, bem como de proteínas da matriz extracelular, como colágeno, elastina e GAGs, além de substâncias reguladoras do metabolismo adipocitário. Tendo em vista a complexidade clínica e estética da celulite, bem como as alterações bioquímicas dérmicas e hipodérmicas, buscamos neste trabalho avaliar os efeitos da associação entre o extrato oleoso dos grãos verdes de café (Coffea arabica L.) (OC) e os fitoesteróis de canola (Brassica campestris L.) (F), cuja combinação resulta no produto Slimbuster® L (SBL). Para isto, avaliamos neste estudo os efeitos in vitro (fibroblastos e adipócitos humanos), ex-vivo (fragmentos de pele humana) e clínicos (voluntários humanos) de SBL...

Cellulite is an alteration of the topography of the skin that occurs mainly in women on the pelvic region, lower limbs and abdomen. It is characterized by a padded or 'orange peel' appearance. In according with its etiology, cellulite is defined as a metabolic located disorder of the subcutaneous tissue that provokes an alteration in the physical form, where many structures are alterated in the dermis, in the microcirculation and within the adipocytes. This phenomenon is associated to morphological, histochemical and biochemical modifications in the skin, culminating in the alterations that lead to the aesthetic discomfort and to the clinical appearance of the cellulitis. These alterations are consequence, in parts, from the lipid accumulation into the adypocites, crucial cells in the lypolisis-lipogenesis balance, and it is considerate as a glandular functional unity able to promote a fine-tune interaction with the central nervous system. Recent studies indicate the search for active substances with the ability of promote the dermo-hypodermic homeostasis through lipolytic action, allied to the stimulus of the production of growth factors, mainly TGF-? and GM-CSF, proteins of extracellular matrix, such as collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans, as well as substances ables to regulate the adipocyte metabolism. According to the clinical and aesthetic complexity of the cellulitis, as well as the biochemical alterations in the dermis and hypodermis, in this work we evatuate the effects...

Effects of Coccoloba uvifera L. on UV-stimulated melanocytes.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces generation of reactive oxygen species, production of proinflammatory cytokines and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) as well as increase in tyrosinase activity. The potential photoprotective effects of Coccoloba uvifera extract (CUE) were evaluated in UV-stimulated melanocytes. METHODS: Human epidermal melanocytes were used as an in vitro model to evaluate the effects of CUE on the production interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and alpha-MSH under basal and UV-stimulated conditions. Antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities were also evaluated in membrane lipid peroxidation and mushroom tyrosinase assay, respectively. RESULTS: Coccoloba uvifera L. showed antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities and also inhibited the production of IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and alpha-MSH in melanocytes subjected to UV radiation (P<0.01). Moreover, CUE inhibited the activity of tyrosine kinase in cell culture under basal and UV radiation conditions (P<0.001), corroborating the findings of the mushroom tyrosinase assay. CONCLUSION: This study supports the photoprotective potential of CUE.