Biodegradable antioxidant chitosan films useful as an anti-aging skin mask.

Cosmetics, personal care and biomedical products obtained by bio-based polymers and natural bioactive compounds are a new growing market. The ecological awareness is changing consumers' demands, causing consumers to look for more sustainable options, with a reduced environmental impact. The innovation of this work was to develop a natural polymer matrix (chitosan) entrapping antioxidant actives compounds such as annatto (Bixa Orellana L.) and vitamin C with potential application as sustainable anti-aging skin mask treatment. Films of chitosan (Ch) and reacetylated chitosan (RCh), exhibiting different degrees of acetylation (DA = 13.3 and 33.9%, respectively), were produced. The formulations of active films of chitosan (BCh) and reacetylated chitosan (BRCh) were 1% (w/w) of chitosan, 1% (w/w) of annatto powder, 5% (w/w) of vitamin C and 1% (w/w) of glycerol (as plasticizer). Reacetylated chitosan films (DA = 33.9%) presented higher water affinity than chitosan films (DA = 13.3%). The elongation of RCh and BRCh increased and the resistance decreased, as compared to Ch and BCh. The antioxidants compounds (annatto and vitamin C) of BRCh films released faster than BCh films. Thus, the BRCh films showed potential application as an anti-aging skin mask.

Relationship between aging and susceptibility of erythrocytes to oxidative damage: in view of nutraceutical interventions.

Twelve (12) healthy elderly subjects were divided into two groups: (a) those given an antioxidant/NO-modulating fermented papaya preparation (FPP) 9 g/day for 4 weeks, and (b) a placebo group. No protein/lipid distribution in erythrocytes (RBC) membranes was noted among different ages and treatments. Higher RBC concentration of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide synthase were found in the elderly (p < 0.05 versus "young" controls), whereas superoxide dismutase was unaltered. Such abnormalities were prevented by FPP supplementation (p < 0.01). RBC and RBC ghosts showed an enhanced susceptibility to lipid peroxidation by using cumene hydroperoxide (p < 0.01 versus young) but FPP supplementation significantly protected intact RBC (p < 0.05). These preliminary data suggest that nutraceuticals with antioxidant/NO-regulating properties significantly protect from RBC oxidative damage, and are potential weapons for the aging process and chronic and degenerative diseases.

The aging/precancerous gastric mucosa: a pilot nutraceutical trial.

The aim of this study was to test the effect of antioxidant supplementation on enzymatic abnormalities and free radical-modified DNA adducts associated with premalignant changes in the gastric mucosa of elderly patients with HP-negative atrophic gastritis (CAG). Sixty patients with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia underwent a nutritional interview and a gastroscopy with multiple biopsy samples in the antrum that were processed for histology and for assaying: alpha-tocopherol, MDA, xanthine oxidase (XO), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), and 8-OHdG. Patients were randomly allocated into three matched groups and supplemented for 6 months with (1) vitamin E, 300 mg/day; (2) multivitamin, two tablets t.i.d.; and (3) Immun-Age 6 g/day nocte (ORI, Gifu, Japan), a certified fermented papaya preparation with basic science-validated antioxidant/immunomodulant properties. Ten dyspeptic patients served as controls. Histology and biochemistry were blindly repeated at 3 and 6 months. CAG patients showed a significantly (P <.05) increased level of mucosal MDA and XO concentration that were reverted to normal by each supplementation (P <.05). All supplements caused a significant decrease of ODC (P <.01), but Immun-Age yielded the most effective (P < 0.05) and was the only one significantly decreasing 8-OhdG (P < 0.05). These data suggest that antioxidant supplementation, and, namely, Immun-Age, might be potential chemopreventive agents in HP-eradicated CAG patients and especially in the elderly population.

Pharmacological studies of the new antiinflammatory agent 3-formylamino-7-methylsulfonylamino-6-phenoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-o ne. 1st communication: antiinflammatory, analgesic and other related properties.

The antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of 3-formylamino-7-methylsulfonylamino-6-phenoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-on e (T-614, CAS 123663-49-0) were investigated in various animal models and compared with those of nimesulide, indomethacin and ibuprofen. The antiinflammatory potency of T-614 on carrageenin-induced paw edema, paper disk granuloma and established adjuvant arthritis was greater than that of ibuprofen, but slightly lower than those of nimesulide and indomethacin. In acute inflammatory models, unlike indomethacin, T-614 suppressed the edemas provoked by dextran and bromelain in rats, but its inhibitory action on ultraviolet erythema in guinea-pigs was weak. Although the analgesic activity of T-614 was hardly demonstrated in writhing tests in mice, its potency against the inflammatory pain such as Randall-Selitto test, adjuvant-induced hyperalgesia and antigen-induced arthritic pain in rats was superior to that of ibuprofen. Moreover, it had a potent analgesic effect on urate-induced synovitis in dogs. T-614 exerted a prompt and strong antipyretic effect in both yeast-induced febrile rats and lipopolysaccharide-induced febrile rabbits. T-614 had virtually no gastrointestinal ulcerogenic action and did not affect water and sodium excretion in rats. T-614 is a novel antiinflammatory compound with different pharmacological properties from that of the reference drugs.

[Pharmacological studies on schizandra fruits. III. Effects of wuweizisu C, a lignan component of schizandra fruits, on experimental liver injuries in rats].

The effects of wuweizisu C, a lignan component of schizandra fruits, on liver injuries induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), d-galactosamine and dl-ethionine were investigated by means of serum-biochemical and histopathological examinations in rats. Pretreatment or combined administration of wuweizisu C dose-dependently reduced the elevation of serum transaminase activity and histological changes such as fatty degeneration, cell necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, etc., which were caused by the single administration of 1 ml/kg, p.o., or the repeated administration of 0.2 ml/kg, s.c., daily for 4 days of CCl4, respectively. The effects of wuweizisu C on the liver injuries induced by a low dose (200 mg/kg, i.p.) and a high dose (400 mg/kg, i.p.) of d-galactosamine were compared with those of uridine. Wuweizisu C significantly lowered the rise of serum transaminase activity after the administration of a low dose of d-galactosamine in the serum-biochemical analysis. A tendency was also shown to inhibit cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by both doses of d-galactosamine in the histopathological examination. On the other hand, uridine markedly repaired the serum-biochemical and histopathological changes after the administrations of both doses of d-galactosamine. Also wuweizisu C cured the liver injury by the repeated administration of 150 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 4 days of d-galactosamine. After the repeated administration of 250 mg/kg, s.c., daily for 4 days of ethionine, liver cell atrophy, diffuse fatty degeneration and decrease of serum triglyceride were observed, but not cell necrosis. Wuweizisu C dose-dependently inhibited fatty degeneration and decrease of serum triglyceride. These findings suggest that wuweizisu C can be protective and/or therapeutic on hepatocellular phenomena such as cell necrosis, fatty degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, etc., in human hepatitis.