An Ocimum basilicum Extract Containing Rosmarinic Acid Restores the Disruption of Collagen Fibers Caused by Repetitive UVA Irradiation of Dermal Fibroblasts.

Photoaged skin is characterized by the appearance of pigmented spots such as solar lentigos, deep wrinkles and sags, and progresses due to chronic sun exposure. Among the wavelengths of sunlight, UVA is responsible for the appearance of wrinkles and sags that originate from structural alterations in the dermis of photoaged skin such as the depletion of collagen fibers. Thus, improving and restoring collagen fibers is an effective approach to reduce skin photoaging and maintain a youthful appearance. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of an extract of Ocimum basilicum (OC), which contains rosmarinic acid (RA), as an anti-photoaging material focusing on the capacity to restore collagen fibers that are disrupted due to intracellular oxidative stress. In spite of their relatively low capacities for chemical scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), both OC and RA showed efficient removal of biological oxidative stress by reducing levels of intracellular ROS and carbonylated proteins (CPs) in fibroblasts following exposure to single or repetitive UVA irradiations. Fibroblasts irradiated with repetitive UVA as a model for chronic sun-exposed cells showed significant increases in matrix metalloproteinase-1 and decreases in type I collagen synthesis and formed reduced numbers of collagen fibers. Since both OC and RA restored the adverse phenomena caused by repetitive UVA irradiation, we conclude that OC containing RA is an effective anti-photoaging material.

An Extract of Young Olive Fruit Residues Attenuates Oxidative Stress in HaCaT Keratinocytes through the Ativation of Nrf2 Signaling.

Residues of olive fruit (ROF) after the extraction of oils are an increasing source of industrial waste, because olive oil is becoming more popular as a healthy food. It has been reported that olives have some polyphenols that have an antioxidation capability. On the other hand, excess oxidative stress disrupts epidermal barrier function. This study was conducted to determine whether ROF could be utilized as an antioxidant source to reduce industrial wastes and to identify possible active materials to maintain healthy skin. Olive fruits are categorized into two groups depending on the time of harvest, young fruit (YF) and mature fruit (MF). Thus, we examined the antioxidant potentials of extracts from YF and from MF to remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) from biological and chemical aspects. HaCaT keratinocytes cultured with extracts of YF or MF had reduced levels of intracellular ROS in spite of the relatively low chemical capability against ROS scavenging. The biological effects of the YF extract were superior to those of the MF extract. The YF extract showed effective reductions of intracellular ROS and carbonylated proteins that were elevated by the stress-related hormone cortisol. In addition, the YF extract reinforced the intracellular antioxidation capability through the activation of Nrf2 signaling. Taken together, the YF extract was an effective source to reinforce the intracellular antioxidation capability. We conclude from these results that utilizing ROF would lead to the reduction of industrial wastes and would supply active materials to maintain healthy skin.

Effects of combined treatment with blood flow restriction and low-current electrical stimulation on muscle hypertrophy in rats.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of a combined treatment comprising blood flow restriction and low-current electrical stimulation on skeletal muscle hypertrophy in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into control (Cont), blood flow restriction (Bfr), electrical stimulation (Es), or Bfr with Es (Bfr + Es) groups. Pressure cuffs (80 mmHg) were placed around the thighs of Bfr and Bfr + Es rats. Low-current Es was applied to calf muscles in the Es and Bfr + Es rats. In experiment 1, a 1-day treatment regimen (5-min stimulation, followed by 5-min rest) was delivered four times to study the acute effects. In experiment 2, the same treatment regimen was delivered three times/wk for 8 wk. Body weight, muscle mass, changes in maximal isometric contraction, fiber cross-sectional area of the soleus muscle, expression of phosphorylated and total-ERK1/2, phosphorylated-rpS6 Ser235/236, phosphorylated and total Akt, and phosphorylated-rpS6 Ser240/244 were measured. Bfr and Es treatment alone failed to induce muscle hypertrophy and increase the expression of phosphorylated rpS6 Ser240/244. Combined Bfr + Es upregulated muscle mass, increased the fiber cross-sectional area, and increased phosphorylated rpS6 Ser240/244 expression and phosphorylated rpS6 Ser235/236 expression compared with controls. Combined treatment with Bfr and low-current Es can induce muscle hypertrophy via activation of two protein synthesis signaling pathways. This treatment should be introduced for older patients with sarcopenia and others with muscle weakness.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated the acute and chronic effect of low-current electrical stimulation with blood flow restriction on skeletal muscle hypertrophy and the mechanisms controlling the hypertrophic response. Low-current electrical stimulation could not induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy, but a combination treatment did. Blood lactate and growth hormone levels were increased in the early response. Moreover, activation of ERK1/2 and mTOR pathways were observed in both the acute and chronic response, which contribute to muscle hypertrophy.