Benefits of skin application of piceatannol-A minireview.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and has several functions such as barrier against external agents, the maintenance of temperature and homeostatic functions. Skin ageing is a natural process that can be influenced by environmental factors, intrinsic skin factors and lifestyle. UV light plays an important role in skin ageing and can cause spots, requiring the use of depigmenting agents. Nowadays, there is a great demand for ingredients that prevent skin ageing, with natural agents occupying a promising position. Among the natural agents, polyphenols, such as resveratrol and piceatannol, found in grapes, passion fruits and other fruits, have a huge relevance. Great benefits of piceatannol have been reported, so thus, this work focuses specifically on a review of the literature regarding the application of this polyphenol in skin care products. This polyphenol can be used in a wound-healing, or as anti-ageing, antioxidant, anti-acne and skin whitening, among other effects.

Up-to-Date Overview of the Use of Natural Ingredients in Sunscreens.

The photoprotective skincare segment is in high demand to meet consumer concerns on UV-induced skin damage, with a recent trend towards sunscreen alternatives with a natural origin. In this study, the use of natural ingredients, either from terrestrial or marine origin, in a panel of 444 sunscreen commercial formulations (2021) was analyzed. Ingredients from terrestrial organisms represent the large majority found in the analyzed sunscreen formulations (48%), whereas marine ingredients are present only in 13% of the analyzed products. A deeper analysis regarding the most prevalent families of ingredients from terrestrial and marine organisms used as top ingredients is also presented, as well as their mechanisms of action. This study provides an up-to-date overview of the sunscreen market regarding the use of natural ingredients, which is of relevance for scientists involved in the development of new sunscreens to identify opportunities for innovation.

Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight.

OBJECTIVE: Sensitive skin is characterized by self-reported sensory perceptions in response to stimuli that should not provoke unpleasant sensations. Cosmetic products for sensitive skin are designed to minimize these symptoms. This study aimed to unveil the most used active ingredients for sensitive skin in facial care products from the pharmacy and parapharmacy channel. METHODS: A pool of products from the pharmacy and parapharmacy channel whose label included the expressions 'sensitive skin', 'reactive skin' or 'intolerant skin' were analysed. The active ingredients were identified from product compositions and ranked in descending order of occurrence. The scientific evidence regarding the mechanism of action and efficacy of each ingredient was also compiled. RESULTS: Eighty-eight products from 19 multinational brands were included. Niacinamide leads the top, followed by Avena sativa, allantoin, glycyrrhetinic acid and derivatives and Laminaria ochroleuca. Ingredients that can reduce skin inflammation and act on the skin barrier were used in more than half of the products analysed. The clinical studies regarding the active ingredients used in these products remain sparse and lack methodological quality. Among the top ingredients, niacinamide, panthenol and acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester were the only ones studied on volunteers having sensitive skin, while acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester and palmitoyl tripeptide-8 were designed to act on the molecular targets involved in this condition. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the most used active ingredients in cosmetic products for sensitive skin, as well as the scientific evidence supporting their efficacy and the mechanisms of action. This insight is meaningful for dermatologists and other health professionals to provide customized advice based on the symptomatology of individuals with sensitive skin, and for the formulation of cosmetic products and design of new active ingredients.

OBJECTIF: La peau sensible se caractérise par des perceptions sensorielles autorapportées en réponse à des stimuli qui ne devraient pas provoquer de sensations désagréables. Les produits cosmétiques pour peaux sensibles sont conçus pour minimiser ces symptômes. Cette étude visait à dévoiler les principes actifs les plus utilisés pour les peaux sensibles dans les produits de soins du visage de la pharmacie et de la chaîne de parapharmacie. MÉTHODES: Un ensemble de produits de la chaîne pharmacie et parapharmacie, dont l'étiquette comportait les expressions « peau sensible ¼, « peau réactive ¼ ou « peau intolérante ¼ ont été analysés. Les principes actifs ont été identifiés à partir des compositions du produit et classés par ordre décroissant d'occurrence. Les preuves scientifiques concernant le mécanisme d'action et l'efficacité de chaque ingrédient ont également été compilées. RÉSULTATS: Quatre-vingt-huit produits provenant de 19 marques multinationales ont été inclus. Le niacinamide est en tête, suivi de l'Avena sativa, de l'allantoïne, de l'acide glycyrrhétinique et de ses dérivés et de Laminaria ochroleuca. Des ingrédients pouvant réduire l'inflammation cutanée et agir sur la barrière cutanée ont été utilisés dans plus de la moitié des produits analysés. Les études cliniques concernant les principes actifs utilisés dans ces produits restent rares et manquent de qualité méthodologique. Parmi les principaux ingrédients, le niacinamide, le panthénol et l'ester de dipeptide acétyl-1 ont été les seuls étudiés sur des volontaires ayant une peau sensible, tandis que l'ester de dipeptide acétyl-1 et le tripeptide palmitoyl-8 ont été conçus pour agir sur les cibles moléculaires qui interviennent dans cette affection. CONCLUSION: Cette étude révèle les principes actifs les plus utilisés dans les produits cosmétiques pour les peaux sensibles, ainsi que les preuves scientifiques étayant leur efficacité et les mécanismes d'action. Cet éclairage est important pour les dermatologues et autres professionnels de la santé pour apporter des conseils personnalisés basés sur la symptomatologie des personnes ayant la peau sensible, et pour la formulation de produits cosmétiques et la conception de nouveaux principes actifs.

Does the Vehicle Matter? Real-World Evidence on Adherence to Topical Treatment in Psoriasis.

The influence of the vehicle in topical treatment adherence remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the pharmaceutical dosage form on adherence to topical treatment in psoriasis patients, taking into consideration the mechanical features. The adherence was evaluated in a sample of 102 psoriasis patients, followed for approximately 45 days. Adherence was calculated with a new combined methodology using a log and medication weights. The effect of the group formulation was evaluated using logistic regression models. A complex effect of the vehicle on adherence was found, mediated by the affected area. The adherence was significantly higher for patients applying gels and creams than for those using ointments, whenever the body area affected was extensive. The opposite was found when the affected area was small. Mechanical properties can partially explain the findings since gels and creams may be easier to apply. Patient beliefs and preferences regarding vehicles and their sensory attributes might also explain the results. It is noteworthy that adherence was strikingly low, with more than 75% non-adherent patients. This real-world evidence provides an insight for pharmaceutical industries and guidance for treatment prescription by physicians aiming to address the public health emergency of treatment non-adherence.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Photoreactivity and Phototoxicity of Natural Polyphenol Antioxidants.

Polyphenols are a large family of natural compounds widely used in cosmetic products due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory beneficial properties and their ability to prevent UV radiation-induced oxidative stress. Since these compounds present chromophores and are applied directly to the skin, they can react with sunlight and exert phototoxic effects. The available scientific information on the phototoxic potential of these natural compounds is scarce, and thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the photoreactivity and phototoxicity of five phenolic antioxidants with documented use in cosmetic products. A standard ROS assay was validated and applied to screen the photoreactivity of the natural phenolic antioxidants caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and rutin. The phototoxicity potential was determined by using a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), based on the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake phototoxicity test. Although all studied phenolic antioxidants absorbed UV/Vis radiation in the range of 290 to 700 nm, only DOPAC was able to generate singlet oxygen. The generation of reactive oxygen species is an early-stage chemical reaction as part of the phototoxicity mechanism. Yet, none of the studied compounds decreased the viability of keratinocytes after irradiation, leading to the conclusion that they do not have phototoxic potential. The data obtained with this work suggests that these compounds are safe when incorporated in cosmetic products.

Biosimilar medicines used for cancer therapy in Europe: a review.

This article provides an updated review of the biosimilar medicines approved for cancer therapy in the European Union (EU). First we discuss the most relevant aspects for the development and approval of biosimilar medicines. We then present the oncological biosimilar drugs currently used, which include epoetins (alpha and zeta), filgrastim, and monoclonal antibodies (rituximab, trastuzumab and bevacizumab). Among the clinical applications of biosimilar medicines, cancer therapy remains the main target area and more approved biosimilars are expected over the next few years, providing cost-effective drugs to more patients. Furthermore, comprehensive pharmacovigilance studies are going on, monitoring the marketed biosimilars, and providing more feasible information to clinicians regarding the safety and efficacy of these medications.

Nucleic Acids Delivery Systems: A Challenge for Pharmaceutical Technologists.

Nucleic acids (NA) therapies, including therapy with genes, aptamers or antisense oligonucleotides, have been showing promising results, especially in the treatment of severe diseases (e.g. cancer and AIDS). Nevertheless, the full success of medical treatments requires efficient achievement of the therapeutic target and also the safety and effectiveness of the pharmaceutical system. NA are not very efficient when administered alone, which means that the use of appropriate methods for in vivo transfection of these molecules into targeted cells is fundamental. Examples of these techniques are the use of viral and non-viral vectors to transfer the NA to the cells nucleus. Despite viral vectors have been demonstrating superior effectiveness for NA transfer, some drawbacks have been pointed out, which focused the research in the non-viral vectors. However, the development of effective NA delivery systems remains a challenge for pharmaceutical technologists, mainly because of their in vivo failure, which hinders their clinical application. In this review article we address the characteristics of NA molecules and their respective limitations for formulation and administration. An update on the state of the art related to the latest and outstanding developments from the in vivo applications of NA viral and non-viral delivery systems is also presented. From this review, we can conclude that there is a lack of research regarding pre-clinical studies in specific animal models of disease, which is required for further human clinical trials and for their use in clinics.