Natural polyphenols: a promising bioactive compounds for skin care and cosmetics

The physiological and morphological aspects of skin suffer from frequent change. Numerous internal and external factors have direct impact on inducing various skin problems like inflammation, aging, cancer, oxidative stress, hyperpigmentation etc. The use of plant polyphenols as a photo-ecting agent is gaining popularity nowadays. Polyphenols are known to enhance endogenic antioxidant system of skin thereby preventing various skin diseases. The biological activity of plant polyphenols is dependent on their physicochemical properties for overcoming the epidermal barriers to reach the specific receptor. Several evidences have reported the vital role polyphenols in mitigating adverse skin problems and reverting back the healthy skin condition. The interest in plant derived skin care products is emerging due to the changing notion of people to shift their focus towards use of plant-based products. The present review draws an attention to uncover the protective role of polyphenols in prevention of various skin problems. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have been summarized that claims the efficacious nature of plant extract having dermatological significance.

Anti-fibrotic effect of extracellular vesicles derived from tea leaves in hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis mice

Background

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is essential for the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, there is no effective drug used to prevent or reverse the fibrotic process.

Methods

With human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 and mouse model of CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis, we investigated the anti-fibrotic effect to liver fibrosis of extracellular vesicles (EVs) extracted from tea leaves through cytological tests such as cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell fibrotic marker.

Results

It was found that tea-derived EVs (TEVs) inhibited HSCs activation. In CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis model, TEVs treatment can significantly improve the pathological changes of liver tissue, inhibit collagen deposition, reduce the number of lipid droplets in liver tissue, and reduce serum AST and ALT levels. In addition, TEVs inhibited TGF-β1 signaling and miR-44 in TEVs had the potential inhibitory effect on liver fibrosis.

Conclusions

Taken together, our work suggesting that TEVs are novel therapeutic potential for liver fibrosis.