Effect of green tea extract loaded chitosan microparticles on facial skin: A split-face, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: The bioactivities of green tea extract were indicated to promote skin health in vitro. Few clinical studies reported on skin nourishment of topical applying green tea extract due to the limited skin absorption. METHODS: This current study evaluated the clinical effectiveness and safety of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles (GTP) in emulsion base on a split-face, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Twenty-nine female volunteers were recruited into the study. They were randomly assigned to apply GTP and placebo creams on each half face for 8 weeks. The facial skin properties on both sides were monitored and evaluated every 2 weeks. RESULTS: The results revealed that skin elasticity (R2) of half face treated with GTP cream (0.748 ± 0.05) was superior to another that received placebo cream (0.722 ± 0.05) at 4th week. In addition, melanin index implying skin dullness of the half face that received GTP cream significantly improved within the 6th week after application (placebo =295.60 ± 58.81, GTP =282.70 ± 59.62). Most importantly, the photographs clearly indicated that the decreasing in facial wrinkles of volunteers applied with GTP cream was more than those applying placebo cream. Signs of skin irritation were not evident in both treatment and placebo cream groups. CONCLUSION: Based on study outcomes, the green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles appear to be the promising active candidate for promoting skin elasticity and improving skin dullness and wrinkles.

Pomelo enhances cyclosporine bioavailability in healthy male Thai volunteers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pomelo pulp on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine in healthy male Thai volunteers. The study design was an open-label, randomized, single dose, crossover study with a 2-week washout period. A single oral dose of 2 × 100 mg cyclosporine was administered with 200 mL of water. Each subject received 250 g of pomelo pulp or 250 mL of water 1 hour before drug administration and once again 10 minutes following drug administration. Blood samples were collected over a 24 hour period. The point estimates (90% confidence intervals) of the test/control ratio using logarithmic transformed data for the area under the curve (AUC) for blood concentration from time 0 to infinity (AUC(0- ∞)) and the observed maximum concentration (C(max)) were 128.8% (120.6-137.6) and 136.1% (126.0-146.8), respectively. These 90% confidence intervals were higher than the accepted bioequivalence range defined by the European Medicines Agency guidelines for narrow therapeutic index drugs (90%-111% for AUC and 80%-125% for C(max)). However, the apparent terminal half-life (t(1/2)) was not significantly different. In conclusion, co-administration of cyclosporine and pomelo pulp increased the relative bioavailability of cyclosporine.