Ingestion of hyaluronans (molecular weights 800 k and 300 k) improves dry skin conditions: a randomized, double blind, controlled study.

Hyaluronan (HA) has been increasingly used as a dietary supplement to improve the skin. However, the effect of ingested HA may depend on its molecular weight (MW) because its physiological activities in the body vary with its MW. In this study, we examined the effects of ingested HA with varying MW on the skin. In this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 61 subjects with dry skin received oral HA (120 mg/day), of MWs 800 k and 300 k or placebo, for 6 weeks. The skin moisture contents of the first two groups increased more than those of the placebo group during the ingestion period. In addition, group HA 300 k exhibited significant improvements in skin moisture content 2 weeks after ingestion ended compared with the placebo group. A questionnaire survey about subjective facial aging symptoms showed that the HA treated groups exhibited significantly improved the skin condition compared with the placebo treated group. Furthermore, dermatologists objectively evaluated the clinical symptoms of the facial and whole body skin, showing that no adverse events were related to daily ingestion of HA. This study shows that both of ingesting HAs (MWs 800 k and 300 k) improved the skin condition by increasing the moisture content.

Ingested hyaluronan moisturizes dry skin.

Hyaluronan (HA) is present in many tissues of the body and is essential to maintain moistness in the skin tissues, which contain approximately half the body's HA mass. Due to its viscosity and moisturizing effect, HA is widely distributed as a medicine, cosmetic, food, and, recently marketed in Japan as a popular dietary supplement to promote skin moisture. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study it was found that ingested HA increased skin moisture and improved treatment outcomes for patients with dry skin. HA is also reported to be absorbed by the body distributed, in part, to the skin. Ingested HA contributes to the increased synthesis of HA and promotes cell proliferation in fibroblasts. These effects show that ingestion of HA moisturizes the skin and is expected to improve the quality of life for people who suffer from dry skin. This review examines the moisturizing effects of dry skin by ingested HA and summarizes the series of mechanisms from absorption to pharmacological action.

Hexylitaconic acid: a new inhibitor of p53-HDM2 interaction isolated from a marine-derived fungus, Arthrinium sp.

A new inhibitor of p53-HDM2 interaction was isolated from a culture of marine-derived fungus, Arthrinium sp. The structure was identified to be (-)-hexylitaconic acid (1) by spectroscopic analysis. The inhibition of p53-HDM2 binding was tested by the ELISA method, and 1 inhibited the binding with an IC(50) value of 50 microg/mL. Although a number of synthetic inhibitors of p53-HDM2 interaction have been reported so far, 1 is the second inhibitor isolated from natural resources.

7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)chroman and broussonin b: neurotrophic compounds, isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE, function as proteasome inhibitors.

The extract of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE) showed neurotrophic activity toward rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells. Bioassay-guided purification afforded four compounds, 2,6,4'-trihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (1), 7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)chroman (2), broussonin B (3), and cis-hinokiresinol (4). Compounds 1-3 induced neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells at concentration of 50 microg/ml, while 4 was less active. In addition, compounds 2-4 showed moderate inhibitory activities against a chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome.