BACKGROUND: Melanin is detectable in various sense organs including the skin in animals. It has been reported that melanin adsorbs toxic elements such as mercury, cadmium, and lead. In this study, we investigated the adsorption of molybdenum, which is widely recognized as a toxic element, by melanin. METHODS: Molybdenum level of the mouse skin was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The pigmentation level of murine skin was digitalized as the L* value by using a reflectance spectrophotometer. An in vitro adsorption assay was performed to confirm the interaction between molybdenum and melanin. RESULTS: Our analysis of hairless mice with different levels of skin pigmentation showed that the level of molybdenum increased with an increase in the level of skin pigmentation (L* value). Moreover, our analysis by Spearman's correlation coefficient test showed a strong correlation (r = - 0.9441, p < 0.0001) between L* value and molybdenum level. Our cell-free experiment using the Langmuir isotherm provided evidence for the adsorption of molybdenum by melanin. The maximum adsorption capacity of 1 mg of synthetic melanin for molybdenum was 131 μg in theory. CONCLUSION Our in vivo and in vitro results showed a new aspect of melanin as an adsorbent of molybdenum.
Adsorption ; Animals ; Melanins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Mice, Transgenic ; Molybdenum ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Skin ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Skin Pigmentation ; drug effects ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology

Chinese herbal medicine ultrafine powder has become a research hotspot for the addition of cosmetic raw materials. Dendrobium candidum is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Its extract and stem extract are already cosmetic raw materials and its water extract has the effect of preventing photoaging,but D. candidum ultrafine powder has not been accepted as a raw material for cosmetics,and no relevant research on photoaging prevention has been reported. In this experiment,the ultra-fine powder and fine powder of D. candidum to prevent photoaging were observed and compared,and its mechanism of action was discussed to provide a basis for the prevention of skin photoaging products. Seventy-two female ICR mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,solvent group,titanium dioxide(Ti O2) group,isooctyl salicylate(2-ES) group,D. candidum ultrafine powder 1(DP1),ultrafine powder 2(DP2) and fine powder(DP3) groups. The photoaging model was established by ultraviolet irradiation for 8 weeks,and the model was intervened while modeling. The skin wrinkle grade,elastic parameters,skin microcirculation blood flow,skin structure and pathological changes(skin thickness,skin collagen fiber,elastic fiber) were observed,the skin transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),Smad3 levels were determined,and the type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen,matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1),activated protein-1(AP-1),VEGF expression were detected. The results showed that ultrafine powder(DP1,DP2) significantly reduced the wrinkle level and skin blood flow of the model mice(P<0. 05,P<0. 01); DP1,DP2 and DP3 could significantly reduce the thickness of the epidermis(P<0. 001),improve collagen fiber,elastic fiber hyperplasia,and distortion and decrease VEGF expression,and DP1 is better than DP2 and DP3; each group could up-regulate type Ⅰ collagen,down-regulate type Ⅲ collagen,AP-1,MMP-1 protein expression,and DP1 improvement optimal. However,it has no obvious effect on TGF-β1 and Smad3. The ultrafine powder and fine powder of D. candidum have certain preventive effect on photoaging,and the effect of ultrafine powder is better than that of fine powder. Ultrafine powder may down-regulate the expression of type Ⅲ collagen,AP-1 and MMP-1 by up-regulating type Ⅰ collagen. Inhibition of collagen degradation plays a role in preventing photoaging.
Animals ; Dendrobium ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Skin ; Skin Aging ; Ultraviolet Rays

A previous study in humans demonstrated the sustained inhibitory effects of donepezil on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity; however, the effective concentration of donepezil in humans and animals is unclear. This study aimed to characterize the effective concentration of donepezil on AChE inhibition and impaired learning and memory in rodents. A pharmacokinetic study of donepezil showed a mean peak plasma concentration of donepezil after oral treatment (3 and 10 mg/kg) of approximately 1.2 ± 0.4 h and 1.4 ± 0.5 h, respectively; absolute bioavailability was calculated as 3.6%. Further, AChE activity was inhibited by increasing plasma concentrations of donepezil, and a maximum inhibition of 31.5 ± 5.7% was observed after donepezil treatment in hairless rats. Plasma AChE activity was negatively correlated with plasma donepezil concentration. The pharmacological effects of donepezil are dependent upon its concentration and AChE activity; therefore, we assessed the effects of donepezil on learning and memory using a Y-maze in mice. Donepezil treatment (3 mg/kg) significantly prevented the progression of scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. As the concentration of donepezil in the brain increased, the recovery of spontaneous alternations also improved; maximal improvement was observed at 46.5 ± 3.5 ng/g in the brain. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the AChE inhibitory activity and pharmacological effects of donepezil can be predicted by the concentration of donepezil. Further, 46.5 ± 3.5 ng/g donepezil is an efficacious target concentration in the brain for treating learning and memory impairment in rodents.
Acetylcholinesterase* ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Brain ; Humans ; Learning* ; Memory* ; Mice ; Plasma ; Rats, Hairless ; Rodentia*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of skin photoaging. Previous studies reported that ethanol extract (PET) of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch flowers (PPF, peach flowers) and its subfractions, particularly the ethylacetate (PEA) and n-butanol extracts (PBT), have potent antioxidant activity and attenuate the UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in human skin cells. In this study, we investigated the protective activity of PPF extract against UV-induced photoaging in a mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Hairless mice were treated with PET or a mixture of PEA and PBT either topically or orally along with UV irradiation. Histological changes and biochemical alterations of mouse skin were examined. Major phenolic compounds in PPF extract were analyzed using an ACQUITY UPLC system. RESULTS: The overall effects of topical and oral treatments with PPF extract on the UV-induced skin responses exhibited similar patterns. In both experiments, the mixture of PEA and PBT significantly inhibited the UV-induced skin and epidermal thickening, while PET inhibited only the UV-induced epidermal thickening. Treatment of PET or the mixture of PEA and PBT significantly inhibited the UV-induced MMP-13 expression, but not typeⅠ collagen expression. Topical treatment of the mixture of PEA and PBT with UV irradiation significantly elevated catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) activities in the skin compared to those in the UV irradiated control group, while oral treatment of the mixture of PEA and PBT or PET elevated only catalase and SOD activities, but not GPx. Thirteen phytochemical compounds including 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, cimicifugic acid E and B, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and kaempferol glycoside derivatives were identified in the PPF extract. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that treatment with PET or the mixture of PEA and PBT, both topically or orally, attenuates UV-induced photoaging via the cooperative interactions of phenolic components having anti-oxidative and collagen-protective activities.
1-Butanol ; Animals ; Catalase ; Collagen ; Ethanol ; Flowers ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Peas ; Phenol ; Prunus persica ; Skin ; Superoxide Dismutase

S-methyl-(L)-methionine (SMM), also known as vitamin U, is commercially available as skin care cosmetic products for its wound healing and photoprotective effects. However, the low skin permeation expected of SMM due to its hydrophilic nature with a log P value of −3.3, has not been thoroughly addressed. The purpose of this study thus was to evaluate the effect of skin permeation enhancers on the skin permeation/deposition of SMM. Among the enhancers tested for the in vitro skin permeation and deposition of SMM, oleic acid showed the most significant enhancing effect. Moreover, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol further enhanced in vitro permeation and deposition of SMM through hairless mouse skin. Furthermore, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol significantly increased the in vivo deposition of SMM in the epidermis/dermis for 12 hr, which was high enough to exert a therapeutic effect. Therefore, based on the in vitro and in vivo studies, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol was shown to be effective in improving the topical skin delivery of SMM, which may be applied in the cosmetic production process for SMM.
Animals ; Ethanol ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Oleic Acid ; Skin Care ; Skin* ; Vitamin U ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Senna, one of the major stimulant laxatives, is widely used for treating constipation. Chronic senna use has been reported to be associated with colonic disorders such as melanosis coli and/or epithelial hyperplasia. However, there is no obvious information on the influence of chronic senna use on organs except for the intestine. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the influence of senna laxative use on skin barrier function by repeated senna administration. METHODS: Eight-week-old male hairless mice received senna (10 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. After administration, we evaluated transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and investigated the biomarkers in plasma and skin using protein analysis methods. RESULTS: Fecal water content on day seven was significantly increased; however, on day 21, it was significantly decreased after repeated senna administration. In the senna-administered group, TEWL was significantly higher compared to the control on days seven and 21. Plasma acetylcholine concentration and NO2 −/NO3 − were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. In skin, tryptase-positive mast cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-positive cells were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. The increase of TEWL on days seven and 21 was suppressed by the administration of atropine and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, respectively. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that diarrhea or constipation induced by repeated senna administration caused the impairment of skin barrier function. There is a possibility that this impaired skin barrier function occurred due to degranulation of mast cells via cholinergic signals or oxidative stress derived from iNOS.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Atropine ; Biomarkers ; Colon ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Intestines ; Laxatives ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Melanosis ; Mice* ; Mice, Hairless ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Senna Extract ; Skin* ; Water

We have previously reported that NS-398, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)–selective inhibitor, inhibited replicative cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts and skin aging in hairless mice. In contrast, celecoxib, another COX-2–selective inhibitor, and aspirin, a non-selective COX inhibitor, accelerated the senescence and aging. To figure out causal factors for the senescence-modulating effect of the inhibitors, we here performed cDNA microarray experiment and subsequent Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. The data showed that several senescence-related gene sets were regulated by the inhibitor treatment. NS-398 up-regulated gene sets involved in the tumor necrosis factor β receptor pathway and the fructose and mannose metabolism, whereas it down-regulated a gene set involved in protein secretion. Celecoxib up-regulated gene sets involved in G2M checkpoint and E2F targets. Aspirin up-regulated the gene set involved in protein secretion, and down-regulated gene sets involved in RNA transcription. These results suggest that COX inhibitors modulate cellular senescence by different mechanisms and will provide useful information to understand senescence-modulating mechanisms of COX inhibitors.
Aging ; Animals ; Aspirin ; Celecoxib ; Cell Aging ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Fibroblasts* ; Fructose ; Gene Expression* ; Genes, vif ; Humans* ; Mannose ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA ; Skin Aging ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RV) has traditionally been used in Korea as an indigenous food (Rhus chicken soup) and as an herbal medicinal plant. While the anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties of RV have been actively studied in the medical field, its antioxidant effects in the skin that resist the reactive oxygen species in keratinocytes and fibroblasts is less understood. OBJECTIVE: We designed to evaluate the effects of R. verniciflua Stokes extract (RVE) on the photo-aged skin by an in vitro experiment using human fibroblasts and an in vivo experiment using a photo-aged murine model. METHODS: For the in vitro experiments, human fibroblasts irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) B were treated with RVE or vehicle, and the growth levels and the expression level of type 1 procollagen were compared. For the in vivo experiment, photo-aged mice irradiated with UVB and UVA were administered drinking water with or without RVE, and histological changes and the expression level of type 1 procollagen and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-13 were compared. RESULTS: In vitro experiments using fibroblasts irradiated with UVB showed that RVE promoted growth and significantly increased the expression of type 1 procollagen as compared to the control group. In the photo-aged mice, RVE increased collagen content in the dermis and promoted the synthesis of type 1 procollagen without any visible decrease in MMP-13 as compared to control group. CONCLUSION: In addition to the previously reported antioxidant effects of RVE, oral intake of RVE effectively inhibited photo-aging in hairless mice by enhancing collagen synthesis.
Aging ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Chickens ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Drinking Water ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Keratinocytes ; Korea ; Mice* ; Mice, Hairless ; Plants, Medicinal ; Procollagen ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rhus* ; Skin*

Placenta is a special organ that contains many nutrients such as growth factors, minerals, and bioactive peptides. Dipeptides of glycine and leucine are major components of porcine placenta extracts (PPE) that has been used as an alternative of human placenta extracts. In this study, we investigated whether major peptides of PPE, Glycyl-L-Leucine (Gly-Leu), L-Leucyl-Glycine (Leu-Gly), and L-Leucyl-L-Leucine (Leu-Leu), affect skin hydration and elasticity in vitro and in vivo. We found that Gly-Leu and Leu-Gly dipeptides induced the expression of transglutaminase 1 in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) whereas Leu-Leu dipeptides did not. Treatment with Gly-Leu or Leu-Gly significantly increased hyaluronan (HA) synthesis in NHEKs and the upregulation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) mRNA level was confirmed. In addition, elastase activity was inhibited in NHEKs treated with Gly-Leu or Leu-Gly dipeptides. Oral administration of Gly-Leu or Leu-Gly dipeptides increased skin hydration and elasticity in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. The significant upregulation of HA in UVB-irradiated hairless mice was observed in response to oral administration of Gly-Leu or Leu-Gly. These results suggest that the major dipeptides of porcine placenta, Gly-Leu and Leu-Gly, are potentially active ingredients for skin moisturization formulations.
Administration, Oral* ; Animals ; Dipeptides* ; Elasticity* ; Glycine* ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Keratinocytes ; Leucine* ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Minerals ; Miners ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Peptides ; Placenta ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUND: Moisturizers with anti-inflammatory or anti-itch activity should be developed for the safe and effective management of atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed moisturizer, CSP0510 lotion (Twolines Inc., Korea), containing citric acid (CA) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) as active ingredients, in mild to moderate AD. METHODS AND RESULTS: CSP0510 lotion applied twice daily for 4 weeks to eczematous lesions improved objective and subjective (itch) symptoms of AD. The physician's global assessment (PGA) score for objective symptoms decreased from 2.5±0.6 before application to 1.3±0.5 after application in the CSP0510-treated group (n=42, p<0.001). Also, the PGA score decreased from 2.3±0.6 to 1.9±0.5 by vehicle-treated (without CA and TSP) control group (p=0.001), but there was no statistical difference between CSP0510-treated and vehicle-treated groups (p=0.089). The visual analogue scale score for itch decreased from 4.8±1.3 to 2.0±0.9 in the CSP0510-treated group (p<0.001), and from 4.6±1.1 to 3.5±0.9 in the control group (p=0.075), showing a statistical significance between two groups (p=0.002). Our results in humans were further supported by in vitro and animal experiments. In HaCaT cells treated with compound 48/80 (7.5 µg/ml), CA:TSP (1:1, vol:vol) synergistically suppressed the compound 48/80-induced upregulation of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, nerve grow factor, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Application of CSP0510 to the dorsal skin of hairless mice for 3 weeks suppressed the oxazolone-induced allergic skin inflammation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, CSP0510 lotion has anti-itch and anti-inflammatory activity in the skin, which improves both objective and subjective symptoms of AD.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Citric Acid* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Skin ; Up-Regulation