In-vitro investigation of anti-acne properties of Mangifera indica L. kernel extract and its mechanism of action against Propionibacterium acnes

Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants as Potential Adjuvants in the Treatment of Mild Acne Vulgaris

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of medicinal plants and phytochemicals as potential treatments for acne vulgaris. This condition, characterized by chronic inflammation, predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. Conventional treatment typically targets the key factors contributing to its development: the proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes and the associated inflammation. However, these treatments often involve the use of potent drugs. As a result, the exploration of herbal medicine as a complementary approach has emerged as a promising strategy. By harnessing the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants and phytochemicals, it may be possible to address acne vulgaris while minimizing the reliance on strong drugs. This approach not only offers potential benefits for individuals seeking alternative treatments but also underscores the importance of natural remedies of plant origin in dermatological care. The primary aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of plants and their phytochemical constituents in the management of mild acne vulgaris. A comprehensive search of scientific databases was conducted from 2018 to September 2023. The findings of this review suggest that medicinal plants and their phytochemical components hold promise as treatments for mild acne vulgaris. However, it is crucial to note that further research employing high-quality evidence and standardized methodologies is essential to substantiate their efficacy and safety profiles.

The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a major pathogen implicated in the evolution of acne inflammation. Inhibition of C. acnes-induced inflammation is a prospective acne therapy strategy. Berberine (BBR), a safe and effective natural ingredient, has been proven to exhibit powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the antimicrobial effect of BBR against C. acnes and its role in C. acnes-mediated inflammatory acne have not been explored. The objective of this investigation was to assess the antibacterial activity of BBR against C. acnes and its inhibitory effect on the inflammatory response. The results of in vitro experiments showed that BBR exhibited significant inhibition zones against four C. acnes strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in the range of 6.25-12.5 μg/mL and 12.5-25 μg/mL, respectively. On the bacterial growth curve, the BBR-treated C. acnes exhibited obvious growth inhibition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that BBR treatment resulted in significant morphological changes in C. acnes. High-content imaging analysis further confirmed that BBR could effectively inhibit the proliferation of C. acnes. The disruption of cell wall and cell membrane structure by BBR treatment was preliminary confirmed according to the leakage of cellular contents such as potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP). Furthermore, we found that BBR could reduce the transcript levels of genes associated with peptidoglycan synthesis (murC, murD, mraY, and murG). Meanwhile, we investigated the modulatory ability of BBR on C. acnes-induced skin inflammation in mice. The results showed that BBR effectively reduced the number of C. acnes colonized in mice's ears, thereby alleviating ear swelling and erythema and significantly decreasing ear thickness and weight. In addition, BBR significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in auricular tissues. These results suggest that BBR has the potential to treat inflammatory acne induced by C. acnes.

Back to Nature: Medicinal Plants as Promising Sources for Antibacterial Drugs in the Post-Antibiotic Era

Undoubtedly, the advent of antibiotics in the 19th century had a substantial impact, increasing human life expectancy. However, a multitude of scientific investigations now indicate that we are currently experiencing a phase known as the post-antibiotic era. There is a genuine concern that we might regress to a time before antibiotics and confront widespread outbreaks of severe epidemic diseases, particularly those caused by bacterial infections. These investigations have demonstrated that epidemics thrive under environmental stressors such as climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and detrimental human activities such as wars, conflicts, antibiotic overuse, and pollution. Moreover, bacteria possess a remarkable ability to adapt and mutate. Unfortunately, the current development of antibiotics is insufficient, and the future appears grim unless we abandon our current approach of generating synthetic antibiotics that rapidly lose their effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Despite their vital role in modern medicine, medicinal plants have served as the primary source of curative drugs since ancient times. Numerous scientific reports published over the past three decades suggest that medicinal plants could serve as a promising alternative to ineffective antibiotics in combating infectious diseases. Over the past few years, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids have exhibited noteworthy antibacterial potential, primarily through membrane-disruption mechanisms, protein binding, interference with intermediary metabolism, anti-quorum sensing, and anti-biofilm activity. However, to optimize their utilization as effective antibacterial drugs, further advancements in omics technologies and network pharmacology will be required in order to identify optimal combinations among these compounds or in conjunction with antibiotics.

New Insights in Topical Drug Delivery for Skin Disorders: From a Nanotechnological Perspective

Skin, the largest organ in humans, is an efficient route for the delivery of drugs as it circumvents several disadvantages of the oral and parenteral routes. These advantages of skin have fascinated researchers in recent decades. Drug delivery via a topical route includes moving the drug from a topical product to a locally targeted region with dermal circulation throughout the body and deeper tissues. Still, due to the skin's barrier function, delivery through the skin can be difficult. Drug delivery to the skin using conventional formulations with micronized active components, for instance, lotions, gels, ointments, and creams, results in poor penetration. The use of nanoparticulate carriers is one of the promising strategies, as it provides efficient delivery of drugs through the skin and overcomes the disadvantage of traditional formulations. Nanoformulations with smaller particle sizes contribute to improved permeability of therapeutic agents, targeting, stability, and retention, making nanoformulations ideal for drug delivery through a topical route. Achieving sustained release and preserving a localized effect utilizing nanocarriers can result in the effective treatment of numerous infections or skin disorders. This article aims to evaluate and discuss the most recent developments of nanocarriers as therapeutic agent vehicles for skin conditions with patent technology and a market overview that will give future directions for research. As topical drug delivery systems have shown great preclinical results for skin problems, for future research directions, we anticipate including in-depth studies of nanocarrier behavior in various customized treatments to take into account the phenotypic variability of the disease.

Therapeutic Potential of Phenolic Compounds in Medicinal Plants-Natural Health Products for Human Health

Phenolic compounds and flavonoids are potential substitutes for bioactive agents in pharmaceutical and medicinal sections to promote human health and prevent and cure different diseases. The most common flavonoids found in nature are anthocyanins, flavones, flavanones, flavonols, flavanonols, isoflavones, and other sub-classes. The impacts of plant flavonoids and other phenolics on human health promoting and diseases curing and preventing are antioxidant effects, antibacterial impacts, cardioprotective effects, anticancer impacts, immune system promoting, anti-inflammatory effects, and skin protective effects from UV radiation. This work aims to provide an overview of phenolic compounds and flavonoids as potential and important sources of pharmaceutical and medical application according to recently published studies, as well as some interesting directions for future research. The keyword searches for flavonoids, phenolics, isoflavones, tannins, coumarins, lignans, quinones, xanthones, curcuminoids, stilbenes, cucurmin, phenylethanoids, and secoiridoids medicinal plant were performed by using Web of Science, Scopus, Google scholar, and PubMed. Phenolic acids contain a carboxylic acid group in addition to the basic phenolic structure and are mainly divided into hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids. Hydroxybenzoic acids are based on a C6-C1 skeleton and are often found bound to small organic acids, glycosyl moieties, or cell structural components. Common hydroxybenzoic acids include gallic, syringic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, gentistic, and salicylic acids. Hydroxycinnamic acids are based on a C6-C3 skeleton and are also often bound to other molecules such as quinic acid and glucose. The main hydroxycinnamic acids are caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic acids.

Microbiomes in Acne Vulgaris and Their Susceptibility to Antibiotics in Indonesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hot and humid countries such as Indonesia have a higher prevalence of acne vulgaris (AV). The activity of skin microbes, not only Cutibacterium acnes, contribute to the formation of AV. Topical and oral antibiotics are routinely prescribed to treat AV. As antimicrobial resistance rates increase globally, there are concerns about decreased efficacy. This study intends to systematically evaluate the microbiomes isolated from AV lesions and their antibiotics susceptibility in Indonesia. The data were retrieved through PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect searches for articles published until July 2022 using three multiword searches. Sixteen studies published between 2001 and 2022 were identified from which the data were pooled using a random effects model. The pooled prevalence estimates demonstrated that C. acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus aureus were the three common microbes associated with AV in Indonesia. Tetracyclines had lower resistance rates compared to those of macrolides and clindamycin, with C. acnes showing a resistance rate that is as high as 60.1% against macrolides. C. acnes resistance against minocycline showed an increasing trend, whereas the resistances to doxycycline, clindamycin, and macrolides stagnated. The high resistance prevalence and trends signify a public health concern. The results of this study call for the development of antibiotic stewardship programs in Indonesia, which may lead to improved acne outcomes.

A review of plant antipathogenic constituents: Source, activity and mechanism

Green prevention and control of plant pathogens is a development direction of sustainable and low-carbon agriculture given the limitation of traditional chemicals. Plant-derived antipathogenic constituents (PAPCs) exhibit the advantages of being environmental benign and a broad spectrum of target pathogens over traditional chemicals. Here, we review the research advances on plant sources, chemical compositions, activities of antipathogenic constituents in the past 20 years. Reported PAPCs are classified into categories of phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and antimicrobial peptides. Angiosperms, gymnosperms and some lower plants are the main plant source of detected PAPCs. The PAPCs act on pathogens through multiple pathways including destroying cell structures, blocking key composition synthesis and inhibiting cell metabolism. The development trends of PAPCs are finally prospected. This review serves as a comprehensive review on the study of plant antipathogenic constituents and a key reference for forecasting the source, characteristic and activity of PAPC.

High-voltage pulse-assisted extraction of flavonoids from kapok using deep eutectic solvent aqueous solutions

In this study, deep eutectic solvents coupled with a pulsed electric field (PEF-DES) were first applied to the extraction of traditional Chinese medicine plants. This study uses the PEF-DES extraction technique to extract TG-KF (Kapok flavonoid solution extracted with DES-TG). PEF-DES is a simple, effective and environmentally-friendly technology and can be used in industrial-scale production. For the optimal extraction conditions of TG-KF, DES-TG was used as a solvent, the DES-TG concentration was 50%, the solid-liquid ratio was 1 : 30, the electric field intensity was 0.55 kV cm-1, the number of pulses was 100, and the yield of flavonoids was 14.36 ± 0.35%. TG-KF has very good stability and there is no precipitation or discoloration within 6 months. The results of chicken embryo experiments and human patch tests show that 10% TG-KF aqueous solution has no irritation. DPPH experiments show that TG-KF has excellent efficacy as an antioxidant. Overall, TG-KF is expected to become a potential antioxidant raw material.

Cosmeceutical Potential of Major Tropical and Subtropical Fruit By-Products for a Sustainable Revalorization

The increasing production of tropical fruits followed by their processing results in tons of waste, such as skins or seeds. However, these by-products have been reported to be rich in bioactive compounds (BACs) with excellent properties of interest in the cosmeceutical industry: antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and photoprotective properties. This review summarizes the tropical fruits most produced worldwide, their bioactive composition and the most important and studied therapeutic properties that their by-products can contribute to skin health, as well as the different approaches for obtaining these compounds using techniques by conventional (Soxhlet, liquid-liquid extraction or maceration) and non-conventional extractions (supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and two-phase aqueous system), followed by their identification by HPLC-MS or GC-MS analysis. Moreover, this work encompasses several studies that may prove the effects of seeds and skins from tropical fruits against oxidative stress, hyperpigmentation, acne, aging or UV radiation. Therefore, the investigation of functional components present in tropical fruit by-products under a circular bioeconomy model could be of great interest for the cosmeceutical industry and a very promising option for obtaining new cosmeceutical formulations.

Comparison of Phytochemical Contents, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Various Solvent Extracts Obtained from 'Maluma' Avocado Pulp Powder

Although avocado is a superfood rich in phytochemicals with high antioxidant activities, studies on the antibacterial properties of its pulp are limited, except for seed and peel portions. In this study, three types of solvent (acetone, methanol, and diethyl ether) were used to obtain the extracts from "Maluma" avocado pulp powder prepared by infrared drying. The extracts were analyzed for total polyphenols, phytopigments (total chlorophylls and carotenoids), antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays), and antibacterial activities against seven pathogens (Shigella sonnei ATCC 9290, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778). The results showed that the acetone solvent could extract the highest polyphenols and chlorophylls with the highest antioxidant activity in terms of ABTS and DPPH assays. In contrast, diethyl ether exhibited the most significant content of carotenoids and FRAP values. However, the methanol extract was the best solvent, exerting the strongest antibacterial and meaningful antioxidant activities. For the bacterial activities, Gram-positive pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were inhibited more efficiently by avocado extracts than Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the extracts from avocado powder showed great potential for applications in food processing and preservation, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Azelaic acid and Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil co-loaded vesicular carrier for combinational therapy of acne

Aim: Azelaic acid (AzA), a comedolytic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory anti-melanogenic agent, prescribed against acne vulgaris is safe on skin. Its combination with another widely used anti-acne agent, tea tree oil (EO) whose delivery is limited by volatility, instability and lipophilicity constraints was attempted. Method: Solvent injection was used to prepare AzA-EO integrated ethosomes. Result: Ethosomes were transformed into carbopol hydrogel, which exhibited pseudo-plastic properties with appreciable firmness, work of shear, stickiness and work of adhesion. The hydrogel showed better permeation and retention characteristics vis-a-vis commercial formulation (AzidermTM), when evaluated in Wistar rat skin. Further, ethosome hydrogel composite was better tolerated with no side effects. Conclusion: The findings suggests that the aforementioned strategy could be a potential treatment used for acne management.

Hydrogel composite containing azelaic acid and tea tree essential oil as a therapeutic strategy for Propionibacterium and testosterone-induced acne

Azelaic acid (AzA) is a USFDA bioactive prescribed against acne vulgaris. It possesses delivery challenges like poor aqueous solubility, low skin-penetrability, and dose-dependent side effects, which could be overcome by its synergistic combination with tea tree oil (TTO) as a microemulsion (ME)-based hydrogel composite. AzA-TTO ME was prepared to employ pseudo-ternary phase diagram construction. The best AzA-TTO ME was of uniform size (polydispersity index < 0.7), nano-range (~357.4 ± 2% nm), transmittance (> 90%), and negative zeta potential (−1.42 ± 0.25% mV) values. ME hydrogel composite with optimum rheological and textural attributes showed better permeation, retention, and skin-compliant characteristics, vis-a-vis marketed formulation (Aziderm™) when evaluated in Wistar rat skin. In vitro antibacterial efficacy in bacterial strains, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acne, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, was evaluated employing agar well plate diffusion and broth dilution assay. ME hydrogel has shown an increase in zone of inhibition by two folds and a decrease in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by eightfold against P. acnes vis-a-vis AzA. Finally, ME hydrogel composite exhibited a better reduction in the papule density (93.75 ± 1.64%) in comparison to Aziderm™ 72.69 ± 4.67%) on acne as developed in rats by inducing testosterone. Thus, the developed AzA-TTO ME hydrogel composite promises an efficacious and comparatively safer drug delivery system for the topical therapy of acne vulgaris.

Multifunctional biological properties and phytochemical constituents of Mangifera indica L. seed kernel extract for preventing skin aging

This study aimed to investigate the potential of Mangifera indica L. seed kernel extract, which is highly discarded by the global food processing industry, as a multifunctional bioactive ingredient for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications. Different extracting solvents were utilized, the extracts were then tested for their antioxidant activities using DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging assays, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Additionally, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and gallic acid content were elucidated using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, as well as high performance liquid chromatography. The hydroethanolic extract (KMHE) exhibited the highest percentage yield, with the highest antioxidant activity owing to its high phenolic content. KMHE consisted of 773.66 ± 9.42 mg GAE/g extract in TPC, 36.20 ± 4.20 mg RU/g extract in TFC. Additionally, gallic acid was shown to be a major constituent of KMHE. KMHE was investigated for anti-tyrosinase, anti-hyaluronidase, anti-MMP-2, and anti-MMP-9 activities. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects of KMHE were studied in RAW 264.7 cells induced by nitric oxide and KMHE was shown to prevent DNA damage, indicating an inhibitory effect on cellular aging. KMHE showed outstanding anti-tyrosinase activity and was as potent an anti-hyaluronidase as gallic acid. Additionally, our results reveal notable anti-MMP-2 and anti-MMP-9 effects that were not significantly different from those of gallic acid. Furthermore, KMHE demonstrated 61.54 ± 2.39% nitric oxide inhibition, with no cytotoxic effects, in RAW264.7 cells, and also prevented DNA damage in the human fibroblast BJ cell line with no cytotoxic effects. Therefore, KMHE could be a promising, natural multifunctional bioactive compound for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications.

Short Overview of Some Assays for the Measurement of Antioxidant Activity of Natural Products and Their Relevance in Dermatology

Impaired systemic redox homeostasis is implicated in the onset and development of various diseases, including skin diseases. Therefore, continuous search for natural products with antioxidant bioactivities applicable in biomedicine is attractive topic of general interest. Research efforts aiming to validate antioxidant potentials of natural products has led to the development of several assays based on various test principles. Hence, understanding the advantages and limitations of various assays is important for selection of assays useful to study antioxidant and related bioactivities of natural products of biomedical interest. This review paper gives a short overview on some chemical and cellular bioassays used to estimate the antioxidant activity of chosen natural products together with a brief overview on the use of natural products with antioxidant activities as adjuvant medicinal remedies in dermatology.

Plant Extracts as a Natural Source of Bioactive Compounds and Potential Remedy for the Treatment of Certain Skin Diseases

Skin ailments present a major health burden in both developed and undeveloped countries. Maintaining healthy skin is important for a healthy body. Medicinal plants have long provided reliable therapy in the treatment of skin diseases in humans through a diverse range of bioactive molecules. Skin diseases may have a various basis, or may be genetically determined; together, they constitute approximately 34% of all occupational diseases encountered in people of all ages. Of these, melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms, with very poor prognosis for patients if it is diagnosed too late. This review of the literature over the past five years examines the role and utilities of plant extracts in treating various skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, acne or melanoma with various potential mechanisms of action.

Revalorization of bioactive compounds from tropical fruit by-products and industrial applications by means of sustainable approaches

Tropical fruits trade is on the rise due to the claimed health benefits related with their consumption. Functional activities are exerted by the presence of bioactive compounds which could be used for prevention or amelioration diseases. However, the occurrence of bioactive compounds is found mainly in non-edible fraction of tropical fruits which are usually discarded. Therefore, the revalorization of tropical fruits by-products as source of functional compounds is on the cutting-edge research. The implementation of this challenge not only allows the enhancement of the tropical fruits by-products management, but also the production of value-added products. This review compiles the latest comprehensive information about the revalorization of bioactive compounds from tropical fruits by-products. A revision of the sustainable green technologies used for the isolation of valuable compounds has been carried out as well as the current food, functional, cosmeceutical and bioenergetics industrial applications of bioactive compounds extracted from tropical fruits by-products.

Optimization of Mangifera indica L. Kernel Extract-Loaded Nanoemulsions via Response Surface Methodology, Characterization, Stability, and Skin Permeation for Anti-Acne Cosmeceutical Application

This study aimed to optimize nanoemulsions loading with Mangifera indica L. kernel extract using response surface methodology for enhancing the stability and skin permeation of the extract. Central composite design was employed for optimization and evaluation of three influencing factors including hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB), % co-surfactant (PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate), and surfactant-to-oil ratio (SOR) on physical properties of the nanoemulsions. The desired nanoemulsions were then incorporated with the extract and characterized. Physicochemical properties of the extract-loaded nanoemulsions and their antibacterial effects against Propionibacterium acnes were also evaluated after storage at various conditions and compared to those of the initial. Ex vivo skin permeation was also investigated. The factors significantly (p < 0.05) influenced on droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential, especially HLB of the surfactant and its combined effects with co-surfactant and SOR. The extract-loaded nanoemulsions revealed a very small spherical droplets (size of 26.14 ± 0.22 nm) with narrow size distribution (PDI of 0.16 ± 0.02). The formulation also presented an excellent stability profile and successfully enhanced antibacterial stability of the extract comparing with the extract solution. Ex vivo skin permeation study illustrated that the extract in nanoemulsions could be delivered through a primary skin barrier to reach viable epidermis dermis layers. In conclusion, the affinity of surfactant and hydrophilicity of the system play a crucial role in nanoemulsions’ characteristics. Such results might provide promising anti-acne nanoemulsions with the notable capacities of extract stabilization and permeation enhancing which will be further clinically evaluated.

The chemical profile and biological activity of different extracts of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. against Cutibacterium acnes

This study evaluated the antibacterial activities of different extracts of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. (S. mukorossi) on Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). The extract solvent and procedure were screened, based on the yield of saponins and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results showed that the optimized product, fermentation and ethyl acetate extract by adding isoamyl alcohol from water extract of S. mukorossi (SWFEAI), had the highest yield of saponins (7.83 ± 0.26%) and the best antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.125 mg/mL) on C. acnes. The destroyed bacterial cell membrane and wall were observed by transmission electron microscopy, which then resulted in cell lysis and death. Furthermore, 20 compounds of SWFEAI were detected, among which oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins with molecular weights of 734, 750, 882, 924 and 966 were speculated to contribute to the antibacterial activities of SWFEAI. The results showed that SWFEAI could be a natural anti-acne agent.

Potential Use of Seaweed Bioactive Compounds in Skincare-A Review

Modern lifestyles have developed new attention on appearance and personal care which attract a huge number of consumers towards cosmetic products. The demand for a skincare product with natural ingredients is rapidly increasing. Seaweeds are major resources for in-demand active compounds with a wide variety of applications. The use of seaweed-derived ingredients in cosmetic products has increased in recent years as many scientific studies have proved the potential skincare properties of seaweed bioactive compounds. This review emphasizes possible skincare properties of seaweed bioactive compounds. The review outlines the mechanism involved in skin problems including hyperpigmentation, premature skin aging, and acne in the first part while the second part focuses on the promising application of seaweeds in skin protection by highlighting the bioactive compound responsible for their bioactivity.

Extraction of essential oil from Citrus reticulate Blanco peel and its antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes)

Citrus is one of the largest output fruits in the word. In China, the major orange variety is the Citrus reticulate Blanco (Ponkan). The peels are discarded as waste material, its comprehensive utilization is urgently needed. In this work, hydrodistillation method was developed to extract citrus essential oil (EO) from Blanco peel. With the optimal extraction conditions, the EO yield was more than 3%. By GC-MS analysis, 53 compounds were identified from the citrus EO. Terpenes compounds accounted for 71.2%, especially d-limonene (major composition) accounted for 58.9%. The obtained citrus EO showed remarkable antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes, Formerly P. acnes) and common microorganisms such as S. aureus, B. subtilis, and E. coli. Even compared with the common antibiotics (such as erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline) for acne therapy, its antibacterial activity against C. acnes is more excellent. This work provides a potential therapy material for the treatment of acne.

Propionibacterium acnes related anti-inflammation and skin hydration activities of madecassoside, a pentacyclic triterpene saponin from Centella asiatica

Madecassoside is a major pentacyclic triterpene saponin from Centella asiatica with multiple pharmaceutical activities. In this study, we focused on its Propionibacterium acnes related anti-inflammation and skin hydration activities, both of which play important roles in skin homeostasis and barrier function. Madecassoside significantly inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, TLR2 and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in P. acnes stimulated THP-1 human monocytic cells. In addition, madecasssoside exhibited significant effects on enhancement of skin hydration through increasing the key moisturizing contributors of aquaporin-3, loricrin and involucrin in HaCaT keratinocytes as well as hyaluronan (HA) secretion in human dermal fibroblasts. The upregulation of HA synthases (HAS1, HAS2, HAS3) and inhibition to ROS formation accounted for the increment of HA content. Together, the in vitro study implied the potential medical and cosmetic application of madecassoside in skin protection.

Flavonoids and Other Phenolic Compounds from Medicinal Plants for Pharmaceutical and Medical Aspects: An Overview

Phenolic compounds as well as flavonoids are well-known as antioxidant and many other important bioactive agents that have long been interested due to their benefits for human health, curing and preventing many diseases. This review attempts to demonstrate an overview of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds as the interesting alternative sources for pharmaceutical and medicinal applications. The examples of these phytochemicals from several medicinal plants are also illustrated, and their potential applications in pharmaceutical and medical aspects, especially for health promoting e.g., antioxidant effects, antibacterial effect, anti-cancer effect, cardioprotective effects, immune system promoting and anti-inflammatory effects, skin protective effect from UV radiation and so forth are highlighted.