Reliability analysis of a novel measurement system for quantifying human skin color.

Background: Precision is crucial in determining the appropriate procedure for implementing further trials. We conducted a study to explore the reliability of a novel measuring system for human skin color. Methods: The novel skin color measuring system was used to capture the skin color of four volunteers (2 males and 2 females) from the same location on each subject by the same operator. The measurement was repeated for different poses and instrument factors (camera and shooting protocol) in the red, green, and blue (RGB) system. The average color depth in each image was calculated and converted from 0 to 255. The spread of measures and the Bland-Altman plot was displayed to determine each variance source's random error, with the interclass correlation coefficients applied to reflect the reliability. Result: The RGB color depth in the experiment ranged from 190, 152, and 122 to 208, 170, and 142. The 95% confidential interval of the differences from the means in RGB colors for the different protocols were ±2.8, ±2.6, and ±2.1, respectively. The largest variation in the replicate trials was observed when subjects were in a supine position (standard deviation: 2). The interclass correlation coefficients were greater than 90%, suggesting that the developed system is highly precise. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the developed device could stably and reliably detect human skin color across different common sources of variation, and thus could be applied clinically to explore relationships between health/disease and skin color changes.

Glycemia Lowering Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Hedychium coronarium Leaves in Diabetic Rodent Models.

Hedychium coronarium has a long history of use worldwide as a food and in folk medicine. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of an aqueous extract of H. coronarium leaves (HC) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Two types of animal models were used in this study: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM (Wistar rats; N = 8) and C57BKSdb/db mice (N = 5). After treatment with HC for 28 days, glucose tolerance improved in both of the diabetic animal models. As significant effects were shown after 14 days of treatment in the STZ-induced T2DM model, we carried out the experiments with it. After 28 days of treatment with HC, the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were significantly improved in the STZ-induced T2DM model. The lesions degree of islet ß-cells was decreased after the HC treatment. Although the insulin level increased moderately, the aldosterone level was significantly decreased in the HC-treated groups, suggesting that aldosterone might play an important role in this effect. In summary, HC is a natural product and it is worth exploring its effect on T2DM.

Safety assessment of the Cistanche tubulosa health food product Memoregain®: Genotoxicity and 28-day repeated dose toxicity test.

The pharmacological effects of Cistanches Herba, known as "Ginseng of the desert", have been extensively studied. In this study, we aimed to assess the genotoxic and oral toxic effects of the Cistanche tubulosa health food product Memoregain® using in vitro and in vivo tests. Ames tests using five strains of Salmonella typhimurium showed no signs of increased reverse mutation upon exposure to Memoregain® up to a concentration of 5 mg/plate. Exposure of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells to Memoregain® did not increase the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in vitro. Moreover, Memoregain® treatment did not affect the proportions of immature to total erythrocytes or the number of micronuclei in the immature erythrocytes of ICR mice. Additionally, after 28-day repeated oral dose toxicity tests (0, 0.15, 0.3, and 0.5g/kg body weight) in rats, no observable adverse effects were found. These toxicological assessments supported the safety of Memoregain® for human consumption.

Evaluation of Acute 13-Week Subchronic Toxicity and Genotoxicity of the Powdered Root of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack).

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is an indigenous traditional herb in Southern Asia. Its powdered root has been processed to produce health supplements, but no detailed toxicology report is available. In this study, neither mutagenicity nor clastogenicity was noted, and acute oral LD50 was more than 6 g/kg b.w. After 4-week subacute and 13-week subchronic exposure paradigms (0, 0.6, 1.2, and 2 g/kg b.w./day), adverse effects attributable to test compound were not observed with respect to body weight, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, macropathology, or histopathology. However, the treatment significantly reduced prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and cholesterol levels, especially in males (P < 0.05). These changes were judged as pharmacological effects, and they are beneficial to health. The calculated acceptable daily intake (ADI) was up to 1.2 g/adult/day. This information will be useful for product development and safety management.

Anti-ageing effects of alpha-naphthoflavone on normal and UVB-irradiated human skin fibroblasts.

Ageing is a complex and multifactorial process resulting in several functional and aesthetic changes to the skin. We found that α-Naphthoflavone (α-NF) concentration-dependently induced pro-collagen type I protein expression and inhibited MMP-1 protein expression, in both normal and UVB-irradiated cells. SB431542 and SIS3 - inhibitors of TGF-ß and Smad3, respectively - significantly alleviate α-NF-caused response of MMP-1 and pro-collagen. LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) can reverse α-NF-induced ERK, Akt, Smad-3 activation, pro-collagen synthesis and α-NF-suppressed AP-1 activation. PD (ERK inhibitor) was not involved in pro-collagen generation and MMP-1 inhibition. We concluded that α-NF promotes pro-collagen production and inhibits MMP-1 expression via the activation of a PI3K/Akt/Smad-3 pathway in normal and UVB-irradiated human skin fibroblasts, while TGF-ß may play an important role in transducing this pathway. These results suggest that α-NF, a natural plant product, has the potential to become a novel anti-ageing skin application.