Ameliorative effects of a beverage containing elastin peptides, Sophora japonica flowers and Haematococcus pluvialis on skin aging: evidence from cell and human studies

L-ergothioneine (EGT), an antioxidative and anti-inflammatory amino acid, is abundant in various mushroom fruiting bodies. Meanwhile, the effects of EGT-containing mushrooms on human skin are unknown. This study investigated the effects of oral ingestion of a novel EGT-rich strain of Pleurotus species (hiratake) on skin conditions in humans. We conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate skin moisturizing functions and facial conditions in 80 healthy women who were randomly assigned to either a group that was supplemented with hiratake tablets containing 25 mg of EGT/day or a placebo group. Skin moisture content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and facial scores (VISIA scores) were measured at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of supplementation. At 8 weeks, the skin moisture content was significantly higher on the temple in the hiratake group than in the placebo group. The hiratake group also exhibited a significant increase in skin moisture content on the arm at 8 and 12 weeks compared with baseline. At 12 weeks, wrinkle and texture scores were significantly better in the hiratake group than in the placebo group, and plasma EGT concentrations in the hiratake group were 4.7-fold higher than baseline (from 3.4 to 15.9 μM). Furthermore, EGT concentrations in plasma were significantly correlated with improvements in skin moisture content and TEWL on the arm, implying that these skin moisturizing benefits could be partly attributed to EGT. A stratified analysis of participants with a low baseline plasma EGT concentration (< 3.3 μM) revealed that skin moisture content on the temple was significantly higher at 8 and 12 weeks, and skin moisture content on the arm at 12 weeks tended to be higher (p = 0.074), in the hiratake group than in the placebo group. These findings suggested that oral ingestion of EGT-rich hiratake can improve skin moisturizing functions. EGT-rich hiratake may help maintain skin conditions in healthy women, and EGT may play a role in these beneficial effects.

Skin Aging manifests primarily with wrinkles, dyspigmentations, texture changes, and loss of elasticity. During the skin aging process, there is a loss of moisture and elasticity in skin resulting in loss of firmness finally leading to skin sagging. The key molecule involved in skin moisture is hyaluronic acid (HA), which has a significant water-binding capacity. HA levels in skin decline with age resulting in decrease in skin moisture, which may contribute to loss of firmness. Clinical trials have shown that topically applied ROL effectively reduces wrinkles and helps retain youthful appearance. In the current study, ROL was shown to induce HA production and stimulates the gene expression of all three forms of hyaluronic acid synthases (HAS) in normal human epidermal keratinocytes monolayer cultures. Moreover, in human skin equivalent tissues and in human skin explants, topical treatment of tissues with a stabilized-ROL formulation significantly induced the gene expression of HAS mRNA concomitant with an increased HA production. Finally, in a vehicle-controlled human clinical study, histochemical analysis confirmed increased HA accumulation in the epidermis in ROL-treated human skin as compared to vehicle. These results show that ROL increases skin expression of HA, a significant contributing factor responsible for wrinkle formation and skin moisture, which decrease during aging. Taken together with the activity to increase collagen, elastin, and cell proliferation, these studies establish that retinol provides multi-functional activity for photodamaged skin.

Aims: Since the deterioration of the skin barrier plays a role in the development of atopic dermatitis, it is necessary to investigate the moisture and sebum content of the skin. In this context, our study aimed to evaluate the change of skin sebum and moisture content with treatment in children with atopic dermatitis. Methods: This study is a cohort study. Patients aged 0-18 years, diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, and those who did not have any accompanying skin disease were included. Skin moisture and sebum levels were measured with a portable pen-shaped LCD Display Digital Skin Moist Oil Analyzer (Reyoung-Beauty, Guangdong, China) digital skin moisture and sebum measurement device from the cubital fossa before and 1 month after the treatment. Skin sebum and moisture were obtained as percentages. Results: The median values of skin moisture and sebum content before treatment in 55 atopic dermatitis patients were 30.0 % (10.0-55.0) and 24.0% (16.0-49.0), respectively. The percentages of skin moisture and sebum content after treatment were 38.0 % (15.0-60.0) and 28.0 % (18.0-50.0), respectively. In atopic dermatitis patients, the increase in skin moisture and sebum percentages was statistically significant for both (p&lt;0.001 and p=0.022, respectively) Conclusion: Skin moisture and skin sebum contents improved significantly with treatment in children with atopic dermatitis. This situation highlights the importance of adherence to treatment and continuity of selected treatments in patients.

Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that the elastin peptide improves the skin's biophysical properties, enhancing the proliferation of fibroblasts and elastin synthesis, resulting in anti-aging properties. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to clinically evaluate the effect of elastin peptide intake on human skin. Healthy adult participants (N=100) were randomly assigned to receive a test product containing 100mg of Bonito elastin peptide (VGPG Elastin® ) or placebo. In this study, all participants were Asian from Korea. The parameters of skin wrinkles, hydration, and brightening (melanin index) were measured at baseline and 4, 8, and 12weeks after intervention. The average skin roughness, maximum peak-to-valley values, maximum peak height of the wrinkle, maximum valley depth of the wrinkle, average maximum height of the wrinkle, and eye wrinkle volume improved considerably in the test group compared with the placebo after 12weeks of intervention. Skin hydration was enhanced, and the melanin index was significantly lower in the test group than in the placebo group. No participant experienced adverse events related to the test product. Oral consumption of Bonito elastin peptide (VGPG Elastin®) reduced fine wrinkles, enhanced skin moisture, and decreased melanin index without significant adverse effects and may be a promising anti-wrinkle, anti-dryness, and anti-pigmentation treatment.

Background/aimAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder characterized by dry skin, pruritus and eczematous lesions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the skin moisture and sebum content of the infants with AD and its relationship between the disease severity.Materials and methods For this cross-sectional and case-control study we included 49 infants with AD aged between 2 and 24 months and 34 healthy infants with the same age and sex as a control group. Skin moisture and sebum content were measured by the bio-impedance method and recorded. Skin prick tests, total IgE levels and food-specific (milk, egg) IgE levels were performed.Results There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of mean skin moisture and sebum content percentage (P < 0.001, both). The mean skin moisture and sebum content were correlated with CRP in patients with AD (P < 0.01, r = –1.00, both), but we did not find any correlation between these parameters with the disease severity.Conclusion We found that skin moisture and sebum content were low even in unaffected areas in AD. The skin structure of these patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.

A healthy skin provides protection against intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Skin aging is characterized by structural and morphological alterations affecting skin health, integrity, and functionality, resulting in visible aging signs. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of a collagen peptide dietary supplement on skin aging in the East Asian population. Eighty-five healthy women, aged from 43 to 65 years old, were randomly assigned to the collagen supplement (CP, 5 g) or placebo (maltodextrin, 5 g) group. To standardize daily skin care, the volunteers in both groups used a specific face cream for 28 days prior to and throughout the supplementation period, creating an equal baseline for the assessment of the efficacy of CP on several skin parameters. At baseline, day 28 and day 84, the following hallmarks of skin and nail aging were assessed: dermis density, skin moisture and elasticity, wrinkle visibility, beauty perception, and nail color. After 84 days, a significant improvement of dermis density and skin moisture was observed in the collagen peptides group compared to the placebo group. Positive effects on skin elasticity, wrinkle visibility, nail color, and overall beauty perception were already observed within 28 days of supplementation in the CP group, while the same effects in the placebo group were only observed after 84 days. Taken together, these results show that, in addition to a standardized skin care, daily supplementation with 5 g of collagen peptides positively affects visible signs of skin and nail aging in the East Asian population.

Effect of supplementation of phosphatidylserine (PS), enzymatically synthesized from soy lecithin, on skin moisture and wrinkle in animal and human was investigated. Skin moisture content of hairless mice was significantly decreased and skin thickness and wrinkle were significantly increased by UV irradiation, whereas PS-supplemented groups showed reduced wrinkle depth and much less wrinkle area unlike UV control (UV/Con) group. The collagen content in PS-supplemented groups increased compared with that in UV/Con group. A placebo-controlled double-blind intake study of soft capsules containing PS (300 mg/day) was performed on 63 subjects who had normal healthy skin for 12 weeks. Dermatologist’s visual assessment and image analysis of replicas showed that wrinkle near eye was improved by PSsupplementation. Upon measurement of moisture content in the skin, PS supplementation increased the moisture content in the skin. These findings showed that PS supplementation was effective in moisturizing and improving wrinkle of the skin in both animal and human; thus, PS could be used as an effective skin food ingredient.

Background/Aims: Our previous study confirmed that Aloe sterol stimulates collagen and hyaluronic acid production in human dermal fibroblasts. This study aims to investigate whether Aloe sterol intake affects skin conditions. Methods: We performed a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of oral Aloe sterol supplementation on skin elasticity, hydration, and the collagen score in 64 healthy women (age range 30-59 years; average 44.3 years) who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or an Aloe sterol-supplemented yogurt. Skin parameters were measured and ultrasound analysis of the forearm was performed. Results: ANCOVA revealed statistical differences in skin moisture, transepidermal water loss, skin elasticity, and collagen score between the Aloe sterol and placebo groups. The gross elasticity (R2), net elasticity (R5), and biological elasticity (R7) scores of the Aloe sterol group significantly increased with time. In addition, skin fatigue area F3, which is known to decrease with age and fatigue, also increased with Aloe sterol intake. Ultrasound echogenicity revealed that the collagen content in the dermis increased with Aloe sterol intake. Conclusion: The results suggest that continued Aloe sterol ingestion contributes to maintaining healthy skin.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of red wine from grapes oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) intake on skin color and skin moisture in Japanese healthy women. The purpose of this study was to improve skin condition, with the primary endpoint set to improve sunburn by ultraviolet (UV) and the secondary endpoint set to improve dryness. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study was conducted on 100 subjects (30 to 59 years of age). They were administered a test beverage, including 200 mg of the red wine OPCs (the test beverage group) or a placebo beverage (the control beverage group) once a day for 12 weeks. The properties of facial skin were measured at 0 (start value), 4th, 8th, and 12th week of the test period. After 12 weeks of administration, the pigmentation scores and melanin index values of the OPC group were significantly reduced from the start value and were lower than the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the OPC group showed a significant increase in water content of the stratum corneum compared to the start value, while that of the control group significantly decreased. The red wine OPCs showed the effects of skin whitening and moisturizing, and it is suggested that OPCs may improve the skin condition of healthy women.

ABSTRACTPurposeThis study aims to explore the mechanism of Bazi Bushen Capsule (BZBS) in treating skin laxity by combining network pharmacology and clinical research.MethodsThe active ingredients and potential drug targets of BZBS were obtained from TCMSP, TCMBANK, and SuperTCM databases. The potential disease targets of skin laxity were obtained from GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases. The common core targets and key compounds were determined using Cytoscape software to construct the Drug Key Compound‐Target network and Protein–Protein Interaction network. The mechanism of BZBS in treating skin laxity was revealed by Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis. Subsequently, to further verify the analysis results, a prospective single‐group clinical trial was conducted, including 35 female volunteers with skin laxity. The planned study visits were initially scheduled for a 12‐week period. The volunteers' average depth of skin wrinkles, skin elasticity parameters, and skin moisture content were examined at 0 week before the experiment and 12 weeks after the experiment.ResultsNetwork pharmacology shows that key compounds are quercetin, kaempferol, arachidonate, suchilactone, ammidin, deoxyharringtonine, sitosterol, mandenol, ethyl linolenate, stigmasterol, poriferast‐5‐en‐3beta‐ol, and cholesterol; core targets include AKT1, IL6, TP53, TNF, EGFR, TGFB1, JUN, MMP9, MTOR, and MMP2; the Relaxin, MAPK, PI3K‐Akt, JAK–STAT signaling pathways, and cellular senescence may be the main ways for BZBS in treating skin laxity. After BZBS treatment, the average wrinkling depth of the enrolled volunteers decreased, and the skin elasticity and moisture content increased.ConclusionBZBS may treat skin laxity by repairing the mucosal barrier, regulating protein metabolism, and showing good therapeutic effects.Trial RegistrationWHO‐recognized clinical trial registry: ChiCTR2200058262

Appropriate skin treatment and care warrants an accurate prediction of skin moisture. However, current diagnostic tools are costly and time-consuming. Stratum corneum moisture content has been measured with moisture content meters or from a near-infrared image. Here, we establish an artificial intelligence (AI) alternative for conventional skin moisture content measurements. Skin feature factors positively or negatively correlated with the skin moisture content were created and selected by using the PolynomialFeatures(3) of scikit-learn. Then, an integrated AI model using, as inputs, a visible-light skin image and the skin feature factors were trained with 914 skin images, the corresponding skin feature factors, and the corresponding skin moisture contents. A regression-type AI model using only a visible-light skin-containing image was insufficiently implemented. To improve the accuracy of the prediction of skin moisture content, we searched for new features through feature engineering ("creation of new factors") correlated with the moisture content from various combinations of the existing skin features, and have found that factors created by combining the brown spot count, the pore count, and/or the visually assessed skin roughness give significant correlation coefficients. Then, an integrated AI deep-learning model using a visible-light skin image and these factors resulted in significantly improved skin moisture content prediction. Skin moisture content interacts with the brown spot count, the pore count, and/or the visually assessed skin roughness so that better inference of stratum corneum moisture content can be provided using a common visible-light skin photo image and skin feature factors.

Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137), an immunobiotic lactic acid bacterium, has been reported to enhance IFN-γ production through induction of IL-12. In this study, we investigated the effects of HK L-137 on skin moisturizing and production of hyaluronic acid (HA), an extracellular matrix associated with the retention of skin moisture. Oral administration of HK L-137 suppressed the loss of water content in the stratum corneum in hairless mice. Treatment of primary epidermal cells with HK L-137 increased HA production. Supernatant from immune cells stimulated by HK L-137, which contained proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, upregulated HA production and hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) messenger RNA expression by BALB/3T3 fibroblasts via activation of transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NFκB). Although treatment of the supernatant with anti-TNF-α antibody (Ab) alone did not inhibit the HA production, combination of anti-TNF-α Ab with anti-IFN-γ Ab significantly inhibited the HA production. Thus, HK L-137-induced IFN-γ plays a critical role in upregulated HA production in collaboration with TNF-α. HK L-137 may be useful for improvement of skin functions such as moisture retention by inducing HA production.

Effects of Chios Mastiha essential oil on cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Effects of Chios Mastiha essential oil on cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study (MASTIHA-OIL)

Hangover after drinking is different from person to person symptoms and degree, but usually thirst, fatigue, headache, general boredom, gastrointestinal disorder, vomiting, diarrhea, deficiency of vitamin appears. This hanging phenomenon is caused by the action of precursors such as ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde, which are the by products of fermentation contained in alcohol and alcohol accumulated in hepatocytes and body. In order to solve the hangover phenomenon, the same Origin as polysaccharide Polydeoxyribonucleotide, which is a nucleic acid-sugar-phosphate complex, which is a semen or testicular extract in salmon extract, and a water soluble salmon extract powder having the same structure and lower price than Polydeoxyribonucleotide And D-Glucuronic acid and N-Acetyl glucosamine. It has excellent biocompatibility, viscoelasticity and moisturizing power. It has effect on reduction of body water loss and skin moisture content in hangover phenomenon. It is antioxidant and skin moisturizing effect Hyaluronic acid was irradiated with gamma rays, and the composition was prepared by using the salmon extract powder and the main raw material. The ethanol degradation, the acetaldehyde reduction amount, the blood acetaldehyde concentration and the acetic acid concentration were measured to evaluate the alcoholysis effect , Skin moisture evaporation rate To examine the evaluation unit water content of the skin was improved determine whether the antioxidant and provide skin moisturizing effect. The addition of ethanol extracts of salmon extracts showed a decrease of 5 to 7 times compared with no addition, and a decrease of 3 to 5 times of acetaldehyde. In addition, the change of acetaldehyde concentration and acetic acid concentration in blood showed a rapid decrease compared to the no - added control group. In addition, when the raw material of hyaluronic acid was used, skin moisture content was high and skin moisture evaporation amount was decreased. Therefore, hyaluronic acid, which is a polysaccharide polymer, has excellent viscoelasticity and moisturizing ability, It is considered to provide antioxidant and skin moisturizing effect. Therefore, it can be said that the composition containing salmon extract powder and hyaluronic acid as a main ingredient is effective for the hangover phenomenon which occurs after drinking.