Anti-skin aging effects and bioavailability of collagen tripeptide and elastin peptide formulations in young and middle-aged women

Background:Collagen peptides(CP),including tripeptides and elastin peptides(EP),are known for their in vitro and in vivo anti-skin aging effects.Despite positive results in animal models,the combination effects of CP and EP and the bioavailability of CP in human studies,particularly in young and middle-aged women,remain underexplored.Objective:To evaluate the effects of an orally administered collagen drink combining CP and EP on the skin health of young and middle-aged women.Materials and Methods:A single-center,randomized,double-blind,parallel-controlled trial was conducted,utilizing the WONDERLABR fish collagen tripeptide beverage.Participants consumed the drink over an 8-week period.Results:Compared to the placebo group,the collagen drink group showed significant improvements in skin hydration(39.19%increase),transepidermal water loss(33.45%decrease),skin elasticity(25.37%increase),dermal collagen content(21.64%increase),pore size(7.94%decrease),wrinkle length(18.09%decrease),skin smoothness(2.85%improvement),and skin roughness(15.32%decrease).Overall pore volume decreased by 60%,and visual assessments indicated a decrease in skin luminosity by 15.20%and smoothness index by 22.55%.Mass spectrometry demonstrated a significant increase in collagen efficacy components,including blood pH and GPH levels(P<0.05).Conclusion:The study confirmed the combination nourishing and anti-skin aging effects of EP and CP on the skin of young and middle-aged women,demonstrating significant improvements in various skin parameters and good bioavailability of collagen peptides.

Numerical Estimation of the Thermal Response of Thermal Protective Clothing-Air Gap-Human Skin Micro-system

Thermal protective clothing has been recognized as the primary shielding against emergency fire hazard and inflammable gas leakage. Therefore,the thermal response of human covered with thermal protective clothing under high temperature is the key work to investigate the thermal insulation of thermal protective clothing. A coupling model composed of thermal protective clothing,air gap and human skin is established and the temperature of the micro-system is numerically solved via the finite element method( FEM).Especially,the heat transfer of air gap located between clothing and human skin considering conduction and radiation is established while the human skin layers involve the effect of blood perfusion. Then the effect of thermophysical properties( thermal conductivity and volumetric capacity) of fabric and thickness of fabric and air on the thermal response of the micro-system is elucidated and compared.The results indicate that the volumetric heat capacity of fabric is the key parameter to affect the thermal shielding performance of thermal protective clothing,and the thicker fabric thickness and air gap thickness can improve the thermal protective properties of the micro-system.

New Insights in the Skin Protective Activity of a Dexpanthenol Containing Formula (BEPANTHEN^®) in a Diaper Rash-Like Model

Background: Dexpanthenol containing formula (BEPANTHEN®), formulated as a water in oil preparation, is currently widely marketed as a diaper care product aiming to protect baby’s buttocks and repair diaper dermatitis. Dexpanthenol is a well-known moisturizer with barrier-improving properties and the oily phase of the water in oil preparation forms a lipophilic film on the skin surface that isolates the skin from irritants (feces and urine). Prolonged contact with irritants triggers a local inflammation cascade responsible for the cutaneous erythema. To further investigate the protective properties of skin barrier preparations, we took advantage of an ex vivo model of healthy human skin discs especially designed to evaluate protective and/or repairing effects of topical preparations recommended for baby’s buttocks through the measurement of interleukin-1 alpha release (a cytokine considered as the Primum movens of the skin inflammatory reaction), following the application of different irritants. Methods: Healthy human skin discs have been incubated in the absence (control) or in the presence of two irritants, i.e. a “urine like + urease” preparation and sodium dodecyl sulfate, and in the presence of three ointments, one containing dexpanthenol, but not the other two. At the end of the incubation period, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) was quantified in the explants culture media. Results: “Urine like + urease” preparation (ULU) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) both increased IL-1α production of skin explants by 181.1% (p < 0.001) and 88.3% (p < 0.001), respectively. The dexpanthenol containing formula significantly inhibited the ULU- and the SDS-induced IL-1α release by 67.42% (p < 0.001) and 46.55% (p < 0.001), respectively. Under the same experimental conditions, one of the formulas without dexpanthenol significantly inhibited the ULU-induced IL-1α release by 45.94% (p < 0.01) but not the SDS-induced one, and the other tested formulation displayed no significant effect on the IL-1α production regardless of the irritant applied. Moreover, the effect of the dexpanthenol containing formula on the ULU-induced IL-1α release was significantly higher than the effect of the other formula;a difference of 19.6 % (p < 0.05) was observed. Conclusion: Dexpanthenol containing formula (BEPANTHEN®) provides good protection of baby’s buttocks against irritants. Its protective effect seems to be superior compared with other products, which did not contain this ingredient. Moreover, the results obtained in the present study suggest that dexpanthenol displays per se a real IL-1α production inhibitory effect. This work, however, consists of preliminary studies and additional investigations involving more formulas and end-points such as the quantification of other pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines and/or resolvins for example, are needed to better understand the cutaneous protective effect of dexpanthenol.

Anti-aging Related Activities and Health Benefits of Licochalcone A:A Review

Background:Licochalcone A(LCA)is a flavonoid derived from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.ex DC and other related plants.Its natural source has been extensively used in complementary medicine,especially traditional Chinese medicine,to treat various ailments.Identified as a phenolic chalcone compound,LCA has gained significant attention in recent years due to its various pharmacological properties.Objective:The objective of this review article is to assess the anti-aging ralated pharmacological properties of LCA.Method:An exhaustive search of several scientific databases was conducted using various relevant keywords to write this review article on LCA,focusing on its therapeutic applications and anti-aging-related pharmacological activities.Some inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly followed to retrieve updated relevant articles.Results:A collection of 292 papers were screened,and 131 were included in this review for an in-depth analysis of Licochalcone A,focusing on its anti-aging-related pharmacological activities and relevant mechanisms,and its toxicity and side effects.Moreover,the potential of LCA as a pharmacological product is discussed,emphasizing its health benefits and potential as a pharmaceutical product.Conclusion:These findings indicate that Licochalcone A is a promising natural therapeutic agent for anti-aging therapy and other ailments.

Supramolecular liquid barrier for sulfur mustard utilizing host-guest complexation of pillar[5]arene with triethylene oxide substituents

Sulfur mustard(SM) can be absorbed by skin quickly and cause serious system damage via reacting with nearly all cell constituents. Until now, there is still lack of effective antidotal therapy for SM and skin protection is highly important to defend SM. In this article, supramolecular liquid barrier based on pillar[5]arene with triethylene oxide substituents(EGP5) has been designed to impede the skin permeation of SM and further interaction with the skin tissue. EGP5 could encapsulate SM within its cavity, with a Kavalue of(5.10 ± 0.47) × 10^(2)L/mol. In vitro skin absorption test proved that EGP5 was capable to effectively prevent SM from penetrating through skin. This supramolecular liquid barrier was employed on rat models to systematically evaluate protective effect against SM intoxication. Pretreatment of EGP5could alleviate skin and system damage induced by SM and improve survival rate of poisoned rat models from 10% to 90%. Additionally, EGP5 served as protective materials could be highly reused after recycling several times. Overall, these findings have provided the first insight into the construction of convenient liquid material for SM protection.