Heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-653 ameliorates human scalp health by regulating scalp microbiome.

BACKGROUND: The equilibrium of the scalp microbiome is important for maintaining healthy scalp conditions, including sebum secretion, dandruff, and hair growth. Many different strategies to improve scalp health have been reported; however, the effect of postbiotics, such as heat-killed probiotics, on scalp health remains unclear. We examined the beneficial effects of heat-killed probiotics consisting of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, GMNL-653, on scalp health. RESULTS: Heat-killed GMNL-653 could co-aggregate with scalp commensal fungi, Malassezia furfur, in vitro, and the GMNL-653-derived lipoteichoic acid inhibited the biofilm formation of M. furfur on Hs68 fibroblast cells. The mRNA of hair follicle growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), vascular endothelial growth factor, IGF-1, and keratinocyte growth factor was up-regulated in skin-related human cell lines Hs68 and HaCaT after treatment with heat-killed GMNL-653. For clinical observations, we recruited 22 volunteer participants to use the shampoo containing the heat-killed GMNL-653 for 5 months and subsequently measured their scalp conditions, including sebum secretion, dandruff formation, and hair growth. We applied polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the scalp microbiota of M. restricta, M. globosa, Cutibacterium acnes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. A decrease in dandruff and oil secretion and an increase in hair growth in the human scalp were observed after the use of heat-killed GMNL-653-containing shampoo. The increased abundance of M. globosa and the decreased abundance of M. restricta and C. acnes were also observed. We further found that accumulated L. paracasei abundance was positively correlated with M. globosa abundance and negatively correlated with C. acnes abundance. S. epidermidis and C. acnes abundance was negatively correlated with M. globosa abundance and positively correlated with M. restricta. Meanwhile, M. globosa and M. restricta abundances were negatively associated with each other. C. acnes and S. epidermidis abundances were statistically positively correlated with sebum secretion and dandruff, respectively, in our shampoo clinical trial. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a new strategy for human scalp health care using the heat-killed probiotics GMNL-653-containing shampoo. The mechanism may be correlated with the microbiota shift.

Regulatory effects of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 on human skin health by improving skin microbiome.

Bacteria response to their environment by producing some compounds which are used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Some probiotics can regulate immune response and modulate the symptoms of several diseases. Bacteria affect skin response to skin care products. Bacteria are thought to play an important role in acne incidence, skin moisture, and nutrient metabolism, but only a few studies have focused on the extracts of Lactobacillus plantarum in skin care. In this study, we identified that L. plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and the gene expression of serine palmitoyltransferase small subunit A. Meanwhile, L. plantarum-GMNL6 reduced the melanin synthesis, the biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus, and the proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes. Information from clinical observation during the ointment for external face use in people displayed that the syndromes of skin moisture, skin color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins were improved. The diversification of human skin microbiomes was affected by smearing the face of volunteers with L. plantarum-GMNL6. Understanding the potential mechanisms of the action of L. plantarum-GMNL6 in dermatologic conditions promotes the development of care products.

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity and antiproliferative effect of the jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) seed extracts in oral carcinoma cells.

It is becoming increasingly evident that certain phytochemicals possess cancer chemopreventive properties. In this study, the antiproliferative activity of extracts from different parts of the jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) plant was evaluated for its effect on human oral carcinoma cell lines. The cytotoxicities of various plant extract concentrations were examined and the 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined. Water extracts of jaboticaba seeds showed concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects. Annexin V/propidium iodide positivity with active caspase-3 induction indicated that the treated cells underwent apoptosis. Several important regulatory proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bid, and survivin) involved in apoptosis were also evaluated. The antioxidant activity of jaboticaba was investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays, and the drug concentration eliciting 50% maximum stimulation (SC50) was determined. The present findings suggest that water extracts of jaboticaba seeds exhibit an antiproliferative effect against oral cancer cells by inducing apoptosis through downregulating survivin expression and thereby activating caspase-mediated Bid cleavage.

Evaluation of depigmenting activity by 8-hydroxydaidzein in mouse B16 melanoma cells and human volunteers.

In our previous study, 8-hydroxydaidzein (8-OHDe) was demonstrated to be a potent and unique suicide substrate of mushroom tyrosinase. In this study, the compound was evaluated for in vitro cellular tyrosinase and melanogenesis inhibitory activities in mouse B16 melanoma cells and for in vivo skin-whitening activity in human volunteers. Tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in the cell culture incubated with 10 microM of 8-OHDe were decreased to 20.1% and 51.8% of control, respectively, while no obvious cytotoxicity was observed in this concentration. In contrast, a standard tyrosinase inhibitor, kojic acid, showed 69.9% and 71.3% of control in cellular tyrosinase and melanogenesis activity, respectively, at a concentration as high as 100 microM. Hence, 8-OHDe exhibited more than an inhibitory effects on melanin production in B16 cells 10-fold stronger than kojic acid. In addition, when a cream containing 4% 8-OHDe was applied to human skin in an in vivo study, significant increases in the dL*-values were observed after three weeks. Moreover, the increase in the dL*-values after 8-week treatment with 4% 8-OHDe (from -0.57 to 1.94) is stronger than those of 2% 8-OHDe treatment (from 0.26 to 0.94) and 2% ascorbic acid-2-glucoside treatment (from 0.07 to 1.54). From the results of the study, it was concluded that 8-OHDe, the potent suicide substrate of mushroom tyrosinase, has depigmenting activities in both mouse melanoma cells and in human volunteers. Thus, the compound has significant potential for use in cosmetics as a skin-whitening ingredient.