Efficacy of porcine placental extract on wrinkle widths below the eye in climacteric women

Combined treatment with basalt stone and placenta extract to improve the chronic pain and scar after breast cancer surgery: a case report

BACKGROUND

The changes in body image caused by breast deformities and postoperative pain have a detrimental influence on the physical and mental health of patients with breast cancer. The postoperative quality of life (QOL) of these patients reduces significantly owing to the changes in the breast, an organ unique to women, that occur following breast cancer surgery.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report presents the case of a Asian woman in her early 40 s with postoperative hypertrophic scarring and contraction of the scar following mastectomy; the patient presented with decreased range of motion of the upper arm, hyperpigmentation from radiation burns, changes in breast shape, and chronic pain. The patient received a combination therapy comprising Basalt Stone Treatment and the application of horse placenta extract. As a result of a total of eight sessions conducted once every two weeks, the patient's pain and scar improved. No adverse events were observed after the therapy.

CONCLUSION

Combination therapy with Basalt Stone Treatment and horse placenta extract improved the chronic pain and scar after breast cancer surgery.

Human Placental Extract Delays In Vitro Cellular Senescence through the Activation of NRF2-Mediated Antioxidant Pathway

Senescent cells accumulate in the organs of aged animals and exacerbate organ dysfunction, resulting in age-related diseases. Oxidative stress accelerates cellular senescence. Placental extract, used in the alleviation of menopausal symptoms and promotion of wound healing and liver regeneration, reportedly protects against oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of human placental extract (HPE) on cellular senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) under oxidative stress conditions. We demonstrated that HPE delays the onset of cellular senescence. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed that under oxidative stress conditions, HPE treatment enhanced the expression of the antioxidant genes CYGB, APOE, NQO1, and PTGS1. Further, HPE treatment under oxidative stress conditions increased the protein level of nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)—a vital molecule in the antioxidant pathway—via post-transcriptional and/or post-translational regulations. These findings indicate that HPE treatment in NHDFs, under chronic oxidative stress, delays cellular senescence by mitigating oxidative stress via upregulation of the NRF2-mediated antioxidant pathway, and HPE treatment could potentially ameliorate skin-aging-associated damage, in vivo.

Human placental extract activates a wide array of gene expressions related to skin functions

As skin aging is one of the most common dermatological concerns in recent years, scientific research has promoted treatment strategies aimed at preventing or reversing skin aging. Breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM), such as collagen and elastin fibers, in the skin results in decreased skin elasticity and tension. Cutaneous cells, especially fibroblasts in the dermis layer of the skin, mainly produce ECM proteins. Although clinical studies have demonstrated that placental extract (PE) has positive effects on skin health, the molecular mechanisms by which PE acts against skin aging are still largely unknown. In this study, we performed RNA-sequence analysis to investigate whether human PE (HPE) alters ECM-related gene expression in normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. Gene ontology analysis showed that genes related to extracellular matrix/structure organization, such as COL1A1, COL5A3, ELN, and HAS2 were highly enriched, and most of these genes were upregulated. We further confirmed that the HPE increased the type I collagen, proteoglycan versican, elastin, and hyaluronan levels in NHDF cells. Our results demonstrate that HPE activates global ECM-related gene expression in NHDF cells, which accounts for the clinical evidence that the HPE affects skin aging.

Effect of Porcine Placental Extract Mixture on Alcohol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

This study was conducted to examine the effect of porcine placenta extract mixture (pPEM, enzymatic/acidic extract = 1/3) on alcoholic hepatotoxicity after pPEM dosing with alcohol in rats. The experimental groups were normal, control, silymarin, three pPEM (590, 1771, and 2511 mg/kg/day, po), and silymarin (100 mg/kg/day, po) groups (n = 10). Alcoholic hepatotoxicity was caused by a liquid ethanol diet for 4 weeks. The effect of pPEM and silymarin on alcoholic hepatotoxicity was evaluated by serology, hepatic ADH and ALDH activities, and histopathological findings. After oral dosing with alcohol for 4 weeks, ALT and AST were significantly increased to 33.7 → 115.6 and 81.37 → 235.0 in the alcohol group, respectively. These levels were decreased significantly to 83.9 and 126.7 in the silymarin group and dose-dependently to 73.6–56.9 and 139.2–122.8 in all pPEM groups. Hepatic ADH and ALDH might have been increased in the control and not in the silymarin and pPEM groups for hepatic ADH. All pPEM groups exhibited no effects on hepatic ALDH except for the high pPEM group. Mild inflammation and fatty lesions were observed in the alcohol group and were attenuated in the silymarin and pPEM groups. As a results, the pPEM showed protective activities against alcoholic hepatotoxicity on the serological markers, hepatic ADH and ALDH, and pathological findings.

The Effect of Fermented Porcine Placental Extract on Fatigue-Related Parameters in Healthy Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Fatigue is one of the major health conditions induced by excessive stress or abnormal immune function or defective antioxidant systems. Placental extract has been reported to have various effects such as immune modulation and cellular regeneration. Fermented porcine placenta (FPP) is a safe nontoxic material, which is highly valuable as a functional food. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-fatigue effects of FPP supplementation compared with a placebo product. Methods: In this double-blind, parallel, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial 84 healthy males and females, aged between 30 and 60 years were randomized to 320 mg of FPP once daily or placebo. The main outcome measures included efficacy of fatigue-inducing treadmill exercise on physical fatigue and fatigue-related parameters based on the questionnaire administered. Results: The IL-1β mRNA expression and fatigue severity scale were changed significantly after 8 weeks of treatment with fermented porcine placenta compared with placebo (p < 0.05). Cortisol levels were significantly improved in participants younger than 45 years following treatment with FPP compared with placebo. Furthermore, the lactate and myoglobin levels were improved significantly in participants with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m² (p = 0.045 and p = 0.011, respectively) following treatment with FPP versus placebo. Conclusions: Our study showed that FPP supplementation significantly ameliorated fatigue-related parameters and subjective symptoms in healthy adults. Therefore, our results indicate that FPP supplementation induced anti-fatigue effect by regulating the inflammatory response.

Placental extract suppresses differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to mature adipocytes via accelerated activation of p38 MAPK during the early phase of adipogenesis

Background

Adipogenesis, the process of preadipocyte differentiation to mature adipocytes accompanied by accumulation of intracytoplasmic lipid droplets, is regulated by various genetic and environmental factors, and closely associated with the development of obesity. Numerous recent studies suggest that some bioactive peptides and proteins derived from animals, and chemical compounds isolated from plants may be useful for prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases. In the present study, we examined the broad spectrum of effects of placental extract, with a focus on the influence of placental extract on adipogenesis.

Method

We cultured 3T3-L1 cells, which are widely used as a model of white preadipocytes, under differentiation conditions in the presence of porcine placental extract (PPE) for 8 days, and then stained the lipid droplets accumulated in the cytoplasm with Oil Red O. We also analyzed the effects of PPE on the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling, mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) and gene expressions associated with 3T3-L1 differentiation.

Results

When we cultured 3T3-L1 cells with PPE under differentiation conditions, the accumulation of lipid droplets and expression of adipocyte differentiation marker genes (Cebpa, Pparg, Slc2a4, Fasn and Adipoq) were dramatically attenuated. The suppressive activity of PPE against adipogenesis was heat-stable and recovered in a low-molecular-weight fraction after ultrafiltration (< 3 kDa) and gel-filtration chromatography (fraction No. 9). We also found that the suppressive activity of PPE affected the early phase of adipocyte differentiation (Days 0–2) without influencing the expression levels of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ. The PPE and fraction No. 9 obtained from gel-filtration chromatography both promoted mitotic clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 while accelerating p38 MAPK phosphorylation. In addition, SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, partially restored the accumulation of lipid droplets and the expression of adipocyte differentiation marker genes that were suppressed by fraction No. 9.

Conclusion

These results indicate that PPE suppresses the differentiation of preadipocytes via accelerated activation of p38 MAPK during the early phase of adipogenesis, suggesting PPE or its functional component could be a potential therapy for treating obesity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12986-019-0361-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A porcine placental extract prevents steatohepatitis by suppressing activation of macrophages and stellate cells in mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by ectopic fat accumulation in the liver. NAFLD is associated with hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress, resulting in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with advanced fibrosis. Placental extracts have been used to treat various chronic diseases due to their antioxidative effect. However, the effects of the extracts on the development of NASH have yet to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that supplementation with an oral porcine placental extract (PPE) attenuated lipid accumulation and peroxidation, insulin resistance, inflammatory and stress signaling, and fibrogenesis in the liver of NASH model mice fed a high-cholesterol and high-fat diet. The PPE reduced the number of M1-like liver macrophages, but increased the number of anti-inflammatory M2-like macrophages, resulting in a predominance of M2 over M1 macrophage populations in the liver of NASH mice. Accordingly, the PPE suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced M1 polarization in isolated murine peritoneal macrophages, whereas it facilitated interleukin 4-induced M2 polarization. Furthermore, the PPE reduced the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation associated with the attenuated transforming growth factor-β/Smad3 signaling, both in the liver of NASH mice and in RI-T cells, a HSC line. The PPE may be a potential approach to prevent NASH by limiting lipid peroxidation, promoting M2 macrophage polarization, and attenuating HSC activation.

Evaluation of fibroblast growth factor activity exerted by placental extract used as a cosmetic ingredient

BACKGROUND

The biological activities claimed for placental extract (PE) in its medical and cosmetic applications are largely assumed to be the combined effects of its various signaling molecules and nutritional constituents. But there are considerable uncertainties about this assumption.

AIMS

To determine the specific biological activity of PE at a molecular level.

METHODS

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) activity was assessed based on the ability to induce proliferation of FGF receptor (FGFR)-overexpressing BaF3 cells.

RESULTS

Porcine PE (PPE), an ingredient in numerous cosmetics, activated proliferation of BaF3 cells overexpressing FGFR subtypes 1c, 2c, 2b, 3c, or 4, that is, all the major FGFR subtypes. The effect was suppressed largely or partially when the cells were treated with a FGFR inhibitor PD173074, and the FGFR-negative BaF3 parent cells exhibited minimal growth promotion as compared to the FGFR-expressing BaF3 cells. The high (>10 kDa) and low (<3 kDa) molecular weight fractions of PPE were effective activators of FGFR signaling. PPE was found to contain sulfated glycosaminoglycans, including heparin/heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, which serve as both structural stabilizers of FGFs and indispensable cofactors for FGF-FGFR signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that PPE is capable of evoking FGF signaling in cells via FGFRs. Given that recombinant FGFs have proven useful for medical/cosmetic purposes, our results suggest that the medical/cosmetic utility of PPE is provided at least partly through the activation of FGF signaling in epidermal, dermal, and subdermal tissues.

Oral Administration of Glycine and Leucine Dipeptides Improves Skin Hydration and Elasticity in UVB-Irradiated Hairless Mice

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.

Effect of porcine placental extract on the mild menopausal symptoms of climacteric women

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the effects of oral porcine placental extract (PPE) on the mild menopausal symptoms of climacteric women.

METHODS

In this 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 50 climacteric Japanese women were randomized 1 : 1 to oral PPE (300 mg/day) or placebo. Menopausal symptoms were evaluated by using the Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI), as were serum estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Blood biochemical and cellular and urinary tests were done to evaluate safety aspects of repeated oral administration of PPE.

RESULTS

The total SMI score of the PPE group was significantly more improved after 12 weeks than that of the placebo group (p = 0.031). This score and three subscores (vasomotor, psychological, and somatic symptoms) were significantly improved at 8 and/or 12 weeks compared with the initial values in the PPE group (p < 0.05). E2 and FSH levels were not improved in either group. No adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral PPE at 300 mg/day improved the mild menopausal symptoms of climacteric women. Since oral PPE did not improve serum E2 and FSH levels, PPE is thought not to ameliorate hormonal balance itself but to improve subjective feelings of climacteric women.

Effects of Ethanol Addition on the Efficiency of Subcritical Water Extraction of Proteins and Amino Acids from Porcine Placenta

In a previous study, hydrolysates of porcine placenta were obtained and the extraction efficiency for proteins and amino acids was compared between sub- and super-critical water extraction systems; optimum efficiency was found to be achieved using subcritical water (170℃, 10 bar). In this study, the effects of adding ethanol to the subcritical water system were investigated. The lowest-molecular-weight extraction product detected weighed 434 Da, and the efficiency of extraction for low-molecular-weight products was increased when either the concentration of ethanol was decreased, or the extraction time was lengthened from 10 min to 30 min. The highest concentration of free amino acids (approximately 8 mM) was observed following 30 min extraction using pure distilled water. The concentration of free amino acids was significantly lower when ethanol was added or a shorter extraction time was used (p<0.05). Color change of the solution following extraction was measured. There were no significant differences in color between lysates produced with different extraction times when using distilled water (p>0.05); however, using different extraction times produced significant differences in color when using 20% or 50% ethanol solution for subcritical extraction (p<0.05). The range of pH for the hydrolysate solutions was 6.4-7.5. In conclusion, the investigated extraction system was successful in the extraction of ≤ 500 Da hydrolysates from porcine placenta, but addition of ethanol did not yield higher production of low-molecular-weight hydrolysates than that achieved by DW alone.