Evaluation of the enzymatic activity and stability of commercial bromelain incorporated in topical formulations

Effect of bromelain on mast cell numbers and degranulation in diabetic rat wound healing

OBJECTIVE

Many studies have revealed the prominent roles of mast cells in wound healing, including inflammatory reactions, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix reabsorption. In the present study, we aimed to assess the probable therapeutic features of bromelain on wound contraction and mast cell degranulation in wound healing in experimental diabetic animals.

METHOD

Male rats were grouped as control, vehicle and experiment. Skin wounds were generated in all groups. Treatments were applied with distilled water and with bromelain (BR) intraperitoneally in the vehicle and experimental groups, respectively. Following skin wound generation, animals were euthanised on days 3, 5, 7 and 15. We gathered 16,800 microscopic images to count the mast cells and degranulation level (Image J software). The wound contraction index was assessed both microscopically (Image J software) and macroscopically (time-lapse photography). The meshwork evaluation method was used to assess wound healing.

RESULTS

Time-lapse photography revealed that the BR significantly (p<0.05) accelerated wound contraction and healing. BR significantly (p<0.05) increased the total number of mast cells in all experimental groups on days 5 and 7. The count of grade III (degranulated) mast cells was reduced significantly (p<0.05) on days 5 and 7 in experimental groups compared to control and vehicle groups.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the rate of wound healing was accelerated considerably following BR administration. In addition, this agent decreased the count of degranulated mast cells, leading to wound contraction and healing.

Laccase Mediator Cocktail System as a Sustainable Skin Whitening Agent for Deep Eumelanin Decolorization

The overproduction of eumelanin leads to a panel of unaesthetic hyper-pigmented skin diseases, including melasma and age spots. The treatment of these diseases often requires the use of tyrosinase inhibitors, which act as skin whitening agents by inhibiting the synthesis of eumelanin, with harmful side effects. We report here that laccase from Trametes versicolor in association with a cocktail of natural phenol redox mediators efficiently degraded eumelanin from Sepia officinalis, offering an alternative procedure to traditional whitening agents. Redox mediators showed a synergistic effect with respect to their single-mediator counterpart, highlighting the beneficial role of the cocktail system. The pro-oxidant DHICA sub-units of eumelanin were degraded better than the DHI counterpart, as monitored by the formation of pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA) and pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (PDCA) degradation products. The most effective laccase-mediated cocktail system was successively applied in a two-component prototype of a topical whitening cream, showing high degradative efficacy against eumelanin.

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.

Evaluation of the anti-aging and antioxidant action of Ananas sativa and Moringa oleifera in a fruit fly model organism

aging is an inevitable biological complex process. It involves the gradual loss of cellular vitality due to accumulative damage to cellular macromolecules by reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS are highly implicated in health, disease, and lifespan. The biochemical pathways involved in the aging process are highly influenced by both exogenous (environmental factors) and endogenous stress factors. These cellular processes are the same in most organisms including the fruit fly, nematode, yeast, mammalian cell line, and rodents. These model organisms have been extensively used in the screening of potent antioxidant botanicals for anti-aging bioactivity. Moringa oleifera and Ananas sativa are great sources of health-promoting nutrients and antioxidants, however, their anti-aging impact is still an evolving area of research interest. Therefore, this review focused on their anti-aging mode of action and some other anti-aging nutriceuticals in different model organisms including the fruit fly. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Staying forever young and healthy is everyone's right. Aside from genetic trait, healthy feeding is peculiar to the world's longest-living people. Ananas sativa (pineapple) and Moringa oleifera leaves are highly valued fruit and herb with nourishing, antioxidant, and medicinal properties. Their extract exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging activities. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans used Moringa seed oil for cosmetics and perfumes. Moringa tea leaves is consumed for its nutritive and medicinal value. Its antioxidant potency endorses its use for anti-aging and other health-promoting purposes. The bioactive compound in pineapple, bromelain, promotes wound healing and it is a component of postsurgical applications due to its anti-inflammatory property. Consumption of Ananas fruit provides the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant. To identify new anti-aging bioactive compounds of therapeutic importance, and understanding the mode of action of these nutriceuticals will contribute to new anti-aging research prospects.

Effect of Polysaccharide Sources on the Physicochemical Properties of Bromelain-Chitosan Nanoparticles

Bromelain, a set of proteolytic enzymes potential pharmaceutical applications, was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles to enhance enzyme stability, and the effect of different chitosan sources was evaluated. Chitosan types (i.e., low molecular weight chitosan, chitosan oligosaccharide lactate, and chitosan from shrimp shells) produced nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties, however in all cases, particle size and zeta potential decreased, and polydispersity index increased after bromelain addition. Bromelain encapsulation was higher than 84% and 79% for protein content and enzymatic activity, respectively, with low molecular weight chitosan presenting the highest encapsulation efficiency. Nanoparticle suspension was also tested for accelerated stability and rheological behavior. For the chitosan-bromelain nanoparticles, an instability index below 0.3 was recorded and, in general, the loading of bromelain in chitosan nanoparticles decreased the cohesiveness of the final suspension.

Natural actives for wound healing: A review

Nature has been a source of medicinal treatments for thousands of years, with the use of plants as prototypes for drug development and for the extraction of active compounds. Skin injuries occur regularly in everyday life, and the human skin has the ability to promote repair spontaneously under healthy conditions. However, some intrinsic and external factors may interfere with skins' natural ability, leading to nonhealing lesions and chronic wounds, which directly affect health and quality of life. Thus, attention should be given to this health problem, using an appropriated management when necessary. In this scenario, phytotherapy may be an option for cutaneous wound treatment, although further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of plants. This article reviews traditionally used natural actives for wound healing, highlighting their characteristics and mode of action.