Anthocyanins rich pomegranate cream as a topical formulation with anti-aging activity

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Extract Effects on Inflammaging

Pomegranate is a notable source of nutrients, containing a considerable proportion of organic acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, fatty acids, and polyphenols such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. It is also rich in nutritionally important minerals and chemical elements such as K, P, Na, Ca, Mg, and N. The presence of several bioactive compounds and metabolites in pomegranate has led to its incorporation into the functional food category, where it is used for its numerous therapeutic properties. Pomegranate's bioactive compounds have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Aging is a process characterized by the chronic accumulation of damages, progressively compromising cells, tissues, and organs over time. Inflammaging is a chronic, subclinical, low-grade inflammation that occurs during the aging process and is linked to many age-related diseases. This review aims to summarize and discuss the evidence of the benefits of pomegranate extract and its compounds to slow the aging processes by intervening in the mechanisms underlying inflammaging. These studies mainly concern neurodegenerative and skin diseases, while studies in other fields of application need to be more practical. Furthermore, no human studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammaging effects of pomegranate. In the future, supplementation with pomegranate extracts, polyphenols, or urolithins could represent a valuable low-risk complementary therapy for patients with difficult-to-manage diseases, as well as a valid therapeutic alternative for the topical or systemic treatment of skin pathologies.

Doxorubicin-sanguinarine nanoparticles: formulation and evaluation of breast cancer cell apoptosis and cell cycle

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic resistance fails cancer treatment. Drug-nanoparticle combinations overcome resistance. Sanguinarine-conjugated nanoparticles may boost sanguinarine's anticancer effects.

METHODS

Sanguinarine, HPMC-NPs, and doxorubicin were tested on Adriamycin-resistant MCF-7/ADR breast cancer cells, parent-sensitive MCF-7, and MCR-5 normal cells (DX).

RESULTS

Regular distribution, 156 nm diameter, <1 μm average size, 100% intensity-SN is therapeutic. Furthermore, the obtained NPs showed PDI = 0.145, zeta-potential=-37.6, and EE%=90.5%. DX sensitized MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 1.4 μM) more than MCF-7/ADR cells (IC50 = 27 μM) with RR = 19.3. SA and SN were more toxic to MCF-7/ADR cells (overexpressed with P-gp) than their sensitive parent MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 4 μM, RR = 0.6 and 0.6 μM, RR = 0.7). MCR-5 normal lung cells were more resistant to SA (IC50 = 7.2 μM) and SN (IC50 = 1.6 μM) with a selection index > 2. Synergistic cytotoxic interactions reduced the IC50 from 27 μM to 1.6 (CI = 0.1) and 0.9 (CI = 0.4) after DX and nontoxic dosages (IC20) of SA and SN. DS and SN killed 27.1% and 39.4% more cells than DX (7.7%), SA (4.9%), SN (5.5%), or untreated control (0.3%). DS and DSN lowered CCND1 and survival in MCF-7/ADR cells while raising p21 and Casp3 gene and protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Cellular and molecular studies suggested adjuvant chemosensitizers SA and SN to reverse MDR in breast cancer cells.

Effectiveness of plant-based hand sanitizer incorporating Quercus infectoria gall extract

AIMS

Quercus infectoria (Qi), a traditional herbal plant with a broad spectrum of activities on multidrug-resistant bacteria, has been developed for hand sanitizer applications.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using agar-well diffusion and broth microdilution method. Bactericidal activity was determined following the European Standard 1276 antibacterial suspension test. Neutralization assay was performed to assess antirespiratory syncytial virus. Safety, stability, and skin permeation of Qi hand gel was investigated. Qi hand sanitizer gel inhibited microorganisms ranging from 99.9% to 99.999% against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus, Staph. epidermidis, Staph. pseudintermedius, Staph. saprophyticus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. A significant reduction in main human dermatophytes including Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, and Talaromyces marneffei of ∼50% was observed (P < .05). Qi hand sanitizer gel inactivated >99% viral particles entering human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Scanning electron micrographs further illustrated that Qi hand sanitizer gel disrupted microbial cell membrane after 1-min contact time resulting in cell death. Qi hand sanitizer gel delivered emollient compounds through simulated human skin layers and showed no cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells. Moreover, Qi hand sanitizer gel demonstrated stability under extreme conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Qi hand sanitizer gel was able to inhibit various microorganisms including bacteria, dermatophytes, and virus.

Research progress and applications of colorful Brassica crops

MAIN CONCLUSION

We review the application and the molecular regulation of anthocyanins in colorful Brassica crops, the creation of new germplasm resources, and the development and utilization of colorful Brassica crops. Brassica crops are widely cultivated: these include oilseed crops, such as rapeseed, mustards, and root, leaf, and stem vegetable types, such as turnips, cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflowers. Colorful variants exist of these crop species, and asides from increased aesthetic appeal, these may also offer advantages in terms of nutritional content and improved stress resistances. This review provides a comprehensive overview of pigmentation in Brassica as a reference for the selection and breeding of new colorful Brassica varieties for multiple end uses. We summarize the function and molecular regulation of anthocyanins in Brassica crops, the creation of new colorful germplasm resources via different breeding methods, and the development and multifunctional utilization of colorful Brassica crop types.

In vitro evaluation of the herbal cream formulation from methanolic leaf extracts of Tephrosia vogelii Hook.f for topical application

Background

Topical infectious are among of global challenges which propelled up with antimicrobial resistances. This scenario compels for drug discovery and development. Herbal formulation is one of important struggle in the drug development with the purpose of overcoming various diseases distressing health care settings. Thus, this study aimed to formulate and evaluate herbal cream from leaf methanolic extracts of Tephrosia vogelii Hook.f for topical therapies.

Methods

Herbal cream was prepared by homogeneously mixing up cream base and methanolic leaf extracts of Tephrosia vogelii. Physicochemical properties and in vitro antimicrobial activities of the cream were evaluated. The stability, colour change, washability and texture were parameters used evaluate physicochemical properties of cream. Disc diffusion method was employed to evaluate antimicrobial activities of the cream against Candida albicans (ATCC 90,028), Escherichia coli (ATCC29953) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923).

Results

Formulated herbal creams; CBTV1, CBTV2 and CBTV3 with methanolic extracts concentrations content of Tephrosia vogelii 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.25%, respectively, were prepared. All cream formulations were stable, washable by water, green in colour and soft. The CBTV3 product exhibited with high prominent antimicrobial activity compared to the rest, henceforth promisingly to be effective for topical skin therapy.

Conclusion

The herbal cream formulation of methanolic leaf extract of Tephrosia vogelii at 0.25% appeared to have more antimicrobial performance. Therefore, it is considered as minimal concentration for the herbal cream formulation in future for clinical trials as a potential antifungal and antibacterial agent product for treatment of skin infections.

Graphical Abstract

Research Progress on Absorption, Metabolism, and Biological Activities of Anthocyanins in Berries: A Review

Berries, as the best dietary sources for human health, are rich in anthocyanins, vitamins, fiber, polyphenols, essential amino acids, and other ingredients. Anthocyanins are one of the most important bioactive components in berries. The attractive color of berries is attributed to the fact that berries contain different kinds of anthocyanins. Increasing research activity has indicated that anthocyanins in berries show various biological activities, including protecting vision; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor qualities; inhibition of lipid peroxidation; anti-cardiovascular disease properties; control of hypoglycemic conditions; and other activities. Hence, berries have high nutritional and medicinal values. The recognized absorption, metabolism, and biological activities of anthocyanins have promoted their research in different directions. Hence, it is necessary to systematically review the research progress and future prospects of anthocyanins to promote a better understanding of anthocyanins. The absorption, metabolism, and biological activities of anthocyanins from berries were reviewed in this paper. The findings of this study provide an important reference for basic research, product development and utilization of berries' anthocyanins in food, cosmetics, and drugs.

Anthocyanins as Key Phytochemicals Acting for the Prevention of Metabolic Diseases: An Overview

Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments present in fruits and vegetables, which render them an extensive range of colors. They have a wide distribution in the human diet, are innocuous, and, based on numerous studies, have supposed preventive and therapeutical benefits against chronic affections such as inflammatory, neurological, cardiovascular, digestive disorders, diabetes, and cancer, mostly due to their antioxidant action. Despite their great potential as pharmaceutical applications, they have a rather limited use because of their rather low stability to environmental variations. Their absorption was noticed to occur best in the stomach and small intestine, but the pH fluctuation of the digestive system impacts their rapid degradation. Urine excretion and tissue distribution also occur at low rates. The aim of this review is to highlight the chemical characteristics of anthocyanins and emphasize their weaknesses regarding bioavailability. It also targets to deliver an update on the recent advances in the involvement of anthocyanins in different pathologies with a focus on in vivo, in vitro, animal, and human clinical trials.

Anthocyanins in Chronic Diseases: The Power of Purple

Anthocyanins are mainly purple-coloured phenolic compounds of plant origin that as secondary metabolites are important in plant survival. Understanding their health benefits in humans requires sourcing these unstable compounds in sufficient quantities at a reasonable cost, which has led to improved methods of extraction. Dark-coloured fruits, cereals and vegetables are current sources of these compounds. The range of potential sustainable sources is much larger and includes non-commercialised native plants from around the world and agri-waste containing anthocyanins. In the last 5 years, there have been significant advances in developing the therapeutic potential of anthocyanins in chronic human diseases. Anthocyanins exert their beneficial effects through improvements in gut microbiota, oxidative stress and inflammation, and modulation of neuropeptides such as insulin-like growth factor-1. Their health benefits in humans include reduced cognitive decline; protection of organs such as the liver, as well as the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys; improvements in bone health and obesity; and regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. This review summarises some of the sources of anthocyanins and their mechanisms and benefits in the treatment of chronic human diseases.

Anthocyanins: Traditional Uses, Structural and Functional Variations, Approaches to Increase Yields and Products' Quality, Hepatoprotection, Liver Longevity, and Commercial Products

Anthocyanins are water-soluble, colored compounds of the flavonoid class, abundantly found in the fruits, leaves, roots, and other parts of the plants. The fruit berries are prime sources and exhibit different colors. The anthocyanins utility as traditional medicament for liver protection and cure, and importance as strongest plants-based anti-oxidants have conferred these plants products different biological activities. These activities include anti-inflammation, liver protective, analgesic, and anti-cancers, which have provided the anthocyanins an immense commercial value, and has impelled their chemistry, biological activity, isolation, and quality investigations as prime focus. Methods in extraction and production of anthocyanin-based products have assumed vital economic importance. Different extraction techniques in aquatic solvents mixtures, eutectic solvents, and other chemically reactive extractions including low acid concentrations-based extractions have been developed. The prophylactic and curative therapy roles of the anthocyanins, together with no reported toxicity has offered much-needed impetus and economic benefits to these classes of compounds which are commercially available. Information retrieval from various search engines, including the PubMed®, ScienceDirect®, Scopus®, and Google Scholar®, were used in the review preparation. This imparted an outlook on the anthocyanins occurrence, roles in plants, isolation-extraction, structures, biosynthetic as well as semi- and total-synthetic pathways, product quality and yields enhancements, including uses as part of traditional medicines, and uses in liver disorders, prophylactic and therapeutic applications in liver protection and longevity, liver cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The review also highlights the integrated approach to yields maximizations to meet the regular demands of the anthocyanins products, also as part of the extract-rich preparations together with a listing of marketed products available for human consumption as nutraceuticals/food supplements.

Phytochemicals in Cancer Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

The interaction of immune checkpoint molecules in the tumor microenvironment reduces the anti-tumor immune response by suppressing the recognition of T cells to tumor cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is emerging as a promising therapeutic option for cancer treatment. However, modulating the immune system with ICIs still faces obstacles with severe immunogenic side effects and a lack of response against many cancer types. Plant-derived natural compounds offer regulation on various signaling cascades and have been applied for the treatment of multiple diseases, including cancer. Accumulated evidence provides the possibility of efficacy of phytochemicals in combinational with other therapeutic agents of ICIs, effectively modulating immune checkpoint-related signaling molecules. Recently, several phytochemicals have been reported to show the modulatory effects of immune checkpoints in various cancers in in vivo or in vitro models. This review summarizes druggable immune checkpoints and their regulatory factors. In addition, phytochemicals that are capable of suppressing PD-1/PD-L1 binding, the best-studied target of ICI therapy, were comprehensively summarized and classified according to chemical structure subgroups. It may help extend further research on phytochemicals as candidates of combinational adjuvants. Future clinical trials may validate the synergetic effects of preclinically investigated phytochemicals with ICI therapy.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of a γ-Lactone Isolated from Ostrich Oil of Struthio camelus (Ratite) and Its Formulated Nano-Emulsion in Formalin-Induced Paw Edema

The ostrich oil of Struthio camelus (Ratite) found uses in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory in eczema and contact dermatitis. The anti-inflammatory effect of a γ-lactone (5-hexyl-3H-furan-2-one) isolated from ostrich oil and its formulated nano-emulsion in formalin-induced paw edema was investigated in this study. Ostrich oil was saponified using a standard procedure; the aqueous residue was fractionated, purified, and characterized as γ-lactone (5-hexyl-3H-furan-2-one) through the interpretation of IR, NMR, and MS analyses. The γ-lactone was formulated as nano-emulsion using methylcellulose (MC) for oral solubilized form. The γ-lactone methylcellulose nanoparticles (γ-lactone-MC-NPs) were characterized for their size, shape, and encapsulation efficiency with a uniform size of 300 nm and 59.9% drug content. The γ-lactone was applied topically, while the formulated nanoparticles (NPs) were administered orally to rats. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac gel) was used as a reference drug for topical use and ibuprofen suspension for oral administration. Edema was measured using the plethysmograph method. Both γ-lactone and γ-lactone-MC-NPs showed reduction of formalin-induced paw edema in rats and proved to be better than the reference drugs; diclofenac gel and ibuprofen emulsion. Histological examination of the skin tissue revealed increased skin thickness with subepidermal edema and mixed inflammatory cellular infiltration, which were significantly reduced by the γ-lactone compared to the positive control (p-value = 0.00013). Diuretic and toxicity studies of oral γ-lactone-MC-NPs were performed. No diuretic activity was observed. However, lethargy, drowsiness, and refusal to feeding observed may limit its oral administration.

Influence of Caralluma adscendens Var. attenuata cold cream on UV-B damaged skin epidermal cells: a novel approach

Ultraviolet radiation-induced sunburns are characterized by pigmented, wrinkled, and dried skin, with rashes and red spots. Chemical sunscreen lotion shows beneficial effects, but it shows the adverse side effect while in continuous usage. Natural substances of plant origin are deemed a possible cause of UV radiation through sunscreen resources. On this basis, we formulated the cold cream from the Caralluma adscendens Var. attenuata (CAVA) plant extract. The phytocompounds were studied by using GC-MS. The antioxidant potential of the plant extract was determined, and the CAVA showed cytotoxicity on A375 skin melanoma cells determined by MTT assay. The FT-IR spectra analysis confirmed the chemical nature of crude and crosslinking between cold creams. The cream was applied topically to rats pre-exposed to UV-B radiation (32,800 J/m2) four times/week (on alternate days). UV-B exposed without any treatment rats showed increased red spots or wrinkles (5 cm2). In contrast, the cold cream treatment application on irradiated skin has significantly reduced the size of rashes and red spots and the wound was contracted in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, histopathology of the experimental rat skin confirmed that CAVA cream treatment significantly reduced the epidermal thickening, damage in dermis and epidermis layers, and restructured the hair follicles. This study suggests that the cream formulated using CAVA can alleviate the damages caused by the UV-B-irradiation at a high level and safeguard the skin tissues.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02694-y.

Evaluation of the Wheat Germ Oil Topical Formulations for Wound Healing Activity in Rats

Wheat Germ Oil (WGO), the flour-milling by-product of wheat has essential constituents for skin health care as vitamin E, B-complex, squalene and unsaturated fatty acids. Incorporate WGO into polymers of the cream and ointment bases and evaluate the wound healing potential of these WGO formulations in the rat-animal model. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> WGO creams and ointments were prepared in two concentrations, 10 and 20% and evaluated for storage stability, homogeneity and compatibility using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. An amount of 0.5 g of the WGO formulations was applied daily to the injured area of the rats back. Wounds were observed for any clinical changes and healing compared to the control animal group. <b>Results:</b> The WGO was compatible with the cream and ointment bases and physically stables over 60 days of storage. The formulations of WGO have induced dose-dependent wound healing properties however the ointment formulations were demonstrating wound healing activity significantly better than the creams at all the intervals of the treatment. Within three weeks, 20% WGO ointment has induced a 90%reduction in the wound size diameter. Also, wounds recovered by 50% in 10 and 14 days of treatment with 20% WGO ointment and cream, respectively. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results revealed that WGO is a potential wound-healing agent from the scope that WGO is a common cosmetic ingredient and available at affordable prices.