Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2025 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
Despite the potential benefits of cannabidiol as a skin-soothing ingredient, its regulatory status hampers its general use in cosmetic products in many countries. To develop an alternative to cannabidiol, fatty acid amide molecules mimicking the chemical structure of endocannabinoids were manufactured using a lipase-catalyzed process. A mixture of fatty acid amides from sunflower oil and 1-amino propan-3-ol was synthesized using an immobilized lipase reaction, and the activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) was measured using a cAMP assay. The anti-inflammatory activity of the endocannabimimetic ingredients was evaluated in cultured human monocytes and ex vivo human skin explant models. A clinical study was conducted to address the skin hydration, skin barrier function, and skin redness, and the ratio of the interleukin-1-receptor antagonist (IL1-RA) to IL-1α in corneocytes, as a marker for skin sensitivity, were also measured. As a result, the activation of CB1R by endocannabimimetic ingredients was observed in cAMP assays, and a reduction in inflammatory responses by human monocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide treatment were also observed. External stress-induced inflammatory responses were reduced in ex vivo human skin explants. Improvements in skin hydration and barrier function were observed in a clinical study. A significant decrease in skin redness and the IL-1RA to IL-1α ratio was also observed. Endocannabimimetic ingredients, as alternatives to cannabidiol, can be used in skin-soothing cosmetics to increase skin hydration, improve skin barrier function, and reduce skin sensitivity....
The ethanolic extract of Carissa carandas L. (ECE) inhibited the enzyme tyrosinase, enhanced the proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblast cells, and increased the formation of collagen type I, indicating possible anti-aging and whitening effects. However, the stratum corneum acts as a rate-limiting stage in the absorption of herbal extracts through the skin, resulting in limited absorption of ECE via the skin, which affects the efficacy of ECE. The purpose of this study was to develop ECE encapsulated in transethosomes for improved skin penetration as a novel brightening and anti-aging cosmeceutical ingredient. Transethosomes were successfully developed using the sonication technique, with a suitable formulation including 1.00% (w/w) phosphatidylcholine, 0.10% (w/w) polysorbate 80 and 28.55% (v/v) ethanol. The physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficacy, in vitro skin permeation and toxicity of ECE-loaded transethosomes were also investigated. The result showed that the percentages of encapsulation of ECE loaded in transethosomes increased slightly with higher concentrations of the ECE. When compared to the liquid extract, the ECE loaded in transethosomes significantly increased (p < 0.05) skin penetration. Furthermore, ECE loaded with transethosomes showed low cytotoxicity in normal human dermal fibroblast cells and caused no skin irritation when evaluated on reconstructed human epidermal skin. Given these abilities, it is evident that transethosomes containing ECE are highly effective anti-aging and skin-whitening agents, making them a promising new cosmeceutical ingredient....
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), commonly recognized as free radicals, significantly contribute to skin damage by disrupting defense and repair mechanisms, thereby accelerating the aging process. An effective strategy to prevent and alleviate skin aging involves the application of topical formulations enriched with powerful antioxidant compounds. Sacha inchi oil (Plukenetia volubilis L.) has been reported to possess significant antioxidant activity, while its oil contains a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, offering potential anti-aging benefits. This study aims to evaluate the stability, in vitro anti-aging activity, and skin irritation assessments of a facial serum containing Sacha inchi oil (SIO) formulated as a topical anti-aging agent. The stability of the serum was assessed by analyzing its organoleptic properties, homogeneity, viscosity, spreadability, pH, microbial contamination, and heavy metal content over a three-month period under controlled climatic conditions. The in vitro anti-aging activity was evaluated through enzyme inhibition assays for neutrophil elastase and collagenase, while skin irritation was assessed via human patch testing. The results indicated that the SIO facial serum exhibits excellent stability, significant anti-aging activity, and is safe for topical application, with no irritant effects observed during skin irritation assessments....
The topical application of probiotic metabolites has shown positive effects in the treatment of skin diseases; however, the effectiveness is strain dependent. Comparing the pathogen inhibitory effects of probiotic strains with different genetic backgrounds and analyzing their key metabolites can provide insights about the potential of applying probiotics for skincare. In this study, we investigated the fermentation growth inhibition of 18 commercial probiotic strains on the skin pathogens Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) and Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) in vitro. We found that most Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis) and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) strains exhibited strong inhibition of M. furfur and C. acnes, which lasted up to 100 h. The main antibacterial metabolites observed were molecules below 10,000 Da in molecular weight, including peptides and organic acids (lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid). The synergistic effect of organic acid combinations lowered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The composition of these antimicrobial metabolites varied among strains, which demonstrated the strain-dependent pathogenic inhibitory effects. This study provides insights into the application potential of using probiotic metabolites against seborrheic dermatitis and acne-related pathogenic bacteria....
Trans-resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol known for its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-aging properties, making it highly valuable in cosmetic applications. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) offer a promising solution to enhance RES’s stability and cutaneous availability. This study aimed to develop and characterize SLNs encapsulating RES for enhanced skin delivery. Multiple methodologies were evaluated to determine the impact of preparation methods on formulation stability. SLNs were formulated using stearic acid, soy phosphatidylcholine, polysorbate 80, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and poloxamer 407, with variations in heating temperatures and homogenization techniques. Stability assessments were conducted over 90 days, examining organoleptic properties of the hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Encapsulation efficiency and skin permeation studies were performed to investigate the efficacy of SLNs in delivering RES. Results demonstrated that formulations prepared with Ultra Turrax at 24,000 rpm and heating at higher temperatures exhibited enhanced stability and smaller particle sizes. The selected formulations, F1 (prepared at 80 ◦C) and F2 (prepared at 70 ◦C) presented encapsulation efficiencies of 70% and 72%, respectively. Skin permeation studies confirmed the ability of SLNs to facilitate RES delivery through the skin. The study concludes that SLNs are suitable carriers for RES skin delivery, offering improved stability and sustained release, thus representing a promising approach for topical applications to leverage RES’s cutaneous therapeutic benefits....
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