Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 prevents obesity by regulating AMPK pathways and gut microbiota in obese rat.

This study assessed the anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101) both in vitro and in vivo. Initially, the cytotoxicity and lipid accumulation inhibitory effects of NTU 101 on 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated using the MTT assay and oil red O assay, respectively. Subsequently, the anti-obesity effects of NTU 101 were investigated in high-fat diet-induced obese rat. Moreover, western blotting was performed to measure the obesity-related protein expression of PPARα, PPARß, PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPß, ATGL, p-p38 MAPK, p-ERK1/2, p-AMPK and CPT-1 in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and adipose and liver tissues. Treatment with 16 × 108 CFU/mL NTU 101 reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by more than 50 %. Oral administration of NTU 101 significantly attenuated body weight gain, as well as adipose tissue weight. NTU 101 administration enhanced fatty acid oxidation increasing expression levels of PPARα, CPT-1, and p-AMPK proteins in liver tissue, while simultaneously inhibited adipogenesis by reducing PPARγ and C/EBPα proteins in adipose tissue. Furthermore, NTU 101 supplementation positively modulated the composition of gut microbiota, notably increasing the abundance of Akkermansiaceae. This present study suggests that NTU 101 exerts anti-obesity effects by regulating gut microbiota, fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis and adipogenesis.

Enzyme-treated caviar extract ameliorates melanogenesis in UVB-induced SKH-1 hairless mice.

This study investigated anti-melanogenesis effects of enzyme-treated caviar extract (CV) in murine melanoma B16F10 cells and SKH-1 hairless mice. To induce melanin production in vitro and in vivo studies, B16F10 cells were treated with 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and SKH-1 hairless mice were irradiated with UVB, respectively. The expression of melnogenesis-related factors and signaling molecules were analyzed by ELISA and western blotting. 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL of CV significantly decreased the melanin contents and the activities of tyrosinase, nitric oxide, glutathione, and cAMP, melanogenesis factor, in B16F10 cells treated IBMX. In addition, CV significantly suppressed the expression of melanogenesis proteins such as pPKA, pCREB, MITF, TRP-1and TRP-2. Similarly, results of oral administration of CV (20, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 8 weeks in UVB-Induced SKH-1 hairless mice, the expression of melanogenesis-related factor tyrosinase, nitric oxide, and cAMP and protein expression of pPKA, pCREBa, MITF, TRP-1and TRP-2 was significantly reduced. In particular, 100 mg/kg of CV exhibited an excellent effect similar to control group. Therefore, we suggest the possibility of developing CV as a food supplement having skin whitening effects by ameliorating melanogenesis.

Enzyme-Treated Caviar Prevents UVB Irradiation-Induced Skin Photoaging.

For this research article, we investigated the protective effects of enzyme-treated caviar powder extract (CV) in ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mice and keratinocytes by confirming moisturizing-related factors and elasticity-related factors. UVB irradiation induced wrinkle formation, dehydration, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the dorsal skin of mice; however, these were suppressed in the CV-supplemented groups in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. Furthermore, in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes, CV treatment increased the antioxidant enzyme activities and the levels of sphingomyelin and hyaluronic acid and decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of IkB-α and p65 phosphorylation. These findings indicate that CV can directly protect keratinocytes against UVB irradiation-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, we suggest that CV can protect against UVB-induced skin photoaging. Therefore, we suggest that caviar is effective for skin health by preventing UVB-induced skin photoaging.

Skin Anti-Aging Efficacy of Enzyme-Treated Supercritical Caviar Extract: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Oxidative stress in the skin, induced by an unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to UVB radiation, leads to skin aging, including reduced elasticity, formation of wrinkles, moisture loss, and inflammation. In a previous study, we revealed the photoaging effects of enzyme-treated caviar extract (CV) by regulating collagen and hyaluronic acid synthase, melanogenesis, anti-oxidant mechanisms, and inflammation in a UVB irradiation-induced mice model. HPLC and MALDI-TOF were performed to determine the effect of enzyme treatment on the free amino acid contents and peptide molecular weight in supercritical caviar extract. As results of the analysis, CV is mainly composed of low-molecular-weight peptides consisting of leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Based on our in vitro and in vivo study, we conducted a clinical trial to assess the skin anti-aging efficacy of CV. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we measured indicators related to elasticity, wrinkles, and skin hydration at 4 and 8 weeks after consumption of CV. The subjects were categorized into caviar, combination, and placebo groups. After 4 weeks, skin hydration, dermal hydration, and transepidermal water loss all showed significant improvement. Furthermore, after 8 weeks, skin elasticity indexes-R2 (total elasticity), R5 (net elasticity), and R7 (ratio of elastic recovery to total deformation)-exhibited significant increases. Improvement in wrinkle indicators (Rmax, Ra, and Rz) and the whitening indicator melanin pigment was also observed. This is the first report showing that CV has significant skin anti-aging efficacy on human skin. In conclusion, our study suggests that CV can be used as skin anti-aging nutraceuticals through positive effects on skin condition in clinical trials.