Anti-inflammatory effects of banana (Musa balbisiana) peel extract on acne vulgaris: In vivo and in silico study.

Objective: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common problem with a relatively high incidence rate among Asian people. The potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of banana peels have been demonstrated in previous studies but have not been studied in cases of AV. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the protective effects of banana (Musa balbisiana) peel extract (MBPE) against AV. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups (n = 6 rats per group): an AV group, AV group treated with 0.15% MBPE, AV group administered 0.30% MBPE, AV group administered 0.60% MBPE, and AV group administered clindamycin (the standard drug treatment). We assessed nodule size, bacterial count, histopathology, and cytokine levels (IL-1α, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-8). Enzyme linked immunoassays were used to measure the cytokine levels. In addition, we performed molecular docking studies to determine the interactions between phytochemicals (trigonelline, vanillin, ferulic acid, isovanillic acid, rutin, and salsolinol) via the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. Results: All MBPE treatment groups, compared with the AV group, showed suppression of both bacterial growth and proinflammatory cytokine production, as well as resolved tissue inflammation. The nodule size was significantly suppressed in the groups receiving the two highest doses of MBPE, compared with the AV group. However, the pharmacological action of MBPE remained inferior to that of clindamycin. Docking studies demonstrated that rutin was the phytocompound with the most negative interaction energy with TLR2 or NF-κB. Conclusions: Our results indicated that MBPE has anti-inflammatory effects against AV, by suppressing nodule formation, inhibiting bacterial growth, and decreasing proinflammatory cytokine production.

The effectiveness of tomato extract on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and severity degree of patients with melasma.

BACKGROUND: Melasma is present in 40% of cases in Southeast Asia. The condition is often unresponsive to therapy; treatment has variable success rates, and melasma has high recurrence rates. Lycopene-rich tomato extract is needed to avoid oxidative stress due to ultraviolet rays that cause melasma through the melanogenesis pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral tomato extract supplement as an adjuvant for melasma therapy. METHODS: The study recruited 62 subjects with melasma to a true-experimental clinic with a double-blind, randomized, pre and post-test control design over 12 weeks at the Diponegoro National Hospital, Indonesia. The subjects received an oral tomato extract supplement contains lycopene 30 mg (placebo). All subjects applied topical sunscreen and hydroquinone-4%-cream. Subjects were assessed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and melasma area and severity index (MASI). RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients completed the research. The serum SOD levels in the treatment group (tomato extract supplementation) were higher than in the control group given the placebo, with delta SOD (P<0.05). The difference in MASI Scores after therapy in the treatment group had a significant decrease compared to the control group, with statistical review results suggesting that the difference was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of tomato extract as an adjuvant therapy can increase serum SOD levels and improve melasma severity.

Advantage of soybean isoflavone as antiandrogen on acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris (AV) is the commonest skin disorder, whereas soybean isoflavone had been proved as antiandrogen that is it can inhibit the enzyme 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 5α-reductase. The purpose of this study is to prove the advantage of soybean isoflavone as antiandrogen on AV. METHODS: this study is a clinical study using randomized pretest-posttest control group design. This study is a study with 40 samples randomized into 2 groups, i.e. placebo group and 160 mgs of isoflavone group, the duration is 12 weeks, conducted a double-blind manner. The dependent variabel is total of AV lesion, whereas the intermediate variable is DHT that will be examined using ELISA. Defferential test and multivariate analysis were performed on dependent, independent and intermediate variables. RESULTS: This study found that the difference in mean of total AV lesion before treatment was not significant (p: 0.099), whereas after treatment it differed significantly (p: 0.000), with significant delta difference (p: 0.000). Difference of mean DHT level before treatment was not significant (p: 0.574), whereas after treatment it differed significantly (p: 0.000), with significant delta difference (p: 0.000). Delta of DHT (p: 0.003) (r: 0.736) had significant influence on delta of total AV lesion (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that supplementation with 160 mgs/day of soybean isoflavone can reduce total AV lesion as a result of decreased DHT level.