Brightening effect of Ziziphus jujuba (jujube) fruit extract on facial skin: A randomized, double-blind, clinical study.

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (jujube) is an invaluable medicinal plant in traditional and modern medicine. Jujube syrup is a complex of herbal extracts including Z. jujuba, Berberis vulgaris, Rhus coriaria, Prunus domestica, and Rosa damascene. The purpose of the present study was to formulate and investigate the efficacy and safety of jujube syrup on brightening of facial skin. In this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study, 46 participants consumed jujube syrup or placebo (23 in each group) twice a day for 8 weeks. The number of pigments, area of pigmentation, and physician's global assessment score (PGAS) were evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks. The results showed the amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids were 81.97 ± 0.25 and 4.98 ± 1.04 mg/ml, respectively. The amounts of organic acids (gallic acid and chlorogenic acid) were quantified at 1140 ± 17.65 and 1520 ± 25.77 µg/ml, respectively. The amounts of total phenolic and flavonoids were stable under accelerated conditions. Eight weeks after treatment, the number of pigment counts reduced to 0.545 ± 0.307 compared to the placebo group. Moreover, the pigmented area and its percentages were significantly reduced to 0.556 ± 0.285 and 0.561 ± 0.288 in jujube syrup compared with placebo, respectively. Jujube syrup is efficient and safe for treating hyperpigmentation of the face.

Contemporary management of phosphorus retention in chronic kidney disease: a review.

Hyperphosphatemia is the most common metabolic complications of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Large observational studies have identified hyperphosphatemia as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in dialysis patients and subsequent studies found that subtle increases in serum phosphate levels even within the normal range are also associated with increased risk for death in predialysis and non-kidney disease population. On the basis of these results, current national practice guidelines advocate more aggressive treatment of hyperphosphatemia to lower serum phosphate targets than in the past . Treatment of hyperphosphatemia requires to strict management through dietary restriction, oral phosphate binders, and dialysis. Calcium-based phosphate binders have low cost and widespread use but cause vascular calcification and hypercalcemia. Non-calcium-based phosphate binders are effective but expensive. Bixalomer is a new Ca-free, metal-free, potent phosphate binder, non-hydrochloride, and non-absorptive polymer, which improves metabolic acidosis. FGF-23 appears as a promising target for novel therapeutic approaches to improve clinical outcomes of CKD patients. This review focuses on novel therapeutic approaches dealing with hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease.