Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of a newly identified chemotype of Achillea wilhelmsii K.Koch from Kashan, Iran

Achillea wilhelmsii K.Koch (Asteraceae) is traditionally used in Kashan (Iran) to control diabetes, headaches, kidney stones and heartburn. Due to its beneficial properties, the aerial parts of the plant were collected from the area of Maragheh (Kashan, Isfahan, Iran), in June 2022, during its full flowering, and the essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation (Clevenger). The yield, composition and antimicrobial activity of the extractive solution were measured. Qualitative evaluation was performed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy method, and antimicrobial activity was determined against 12 strains of microorganisms by measuring inhibition halo, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The yield of essential oil was ~ 0.1071% (w/w) and it mainly contained oxygenated monoterpenes (47.87%), being for the first time fragranol (33.22%), fragranyl acetate (16.18%) and oleic acid (6.33%) the most abundant. The highest inhibitory halo was found against Candida albicans and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (~ 10 mm). The essential oil was also effective against gram-negative bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Shigella dysenteriae, as the inhibition halo was ~ 9 mm and similar to that of rifampin, used as a reference. Therefore, it seems that this essential oil from and endemic species has a unique chemotype with potential antimicrobial activity, which may be a possible option for fragranol isolation and the production of natural antibiotics effective against various microorganisms

Jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) peel as a sustainable source of anthocyanins and ellagitannins delivered by phospholipid vesicles for alleviating oxidative stress in human keratinocytes

The Brazilian berry scientifically known as jabuticaba is a fruit covered by a dark purple peel that is still rich in bioactives, especially polyphenols. Considering that, this work was aimed at obtaining an extract from the peel of jabuticaba fruits, identifying its main components, loading it in phospholipid vesicles specifically tailored for skin delivery and evaluating their biological efficacy. The extract was obtained by pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE), which is considered an easy and low dissipative method, and it was rich in polyphenolic compounds, especially flavonoids (ortho-diphenols and condensed tannins), anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and delphinidin 3-O-glucoside) and gallic acid, which were responsible for the high antioxidant activity detected using different colorimetric methods (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC and metal chelation). To improve the stability and extract effectiveness, it was incorporated into ultradeformable phospholipid vesicles (transfersomes) that were modified by adding two different polymers (hydroxyethyl cellulose and sodium hyaluronate), thus obtaining HEcellulose-transfersomes and hyaluronan-transfersomes. Transfersomes without polymers were the smallest, as the addition of the polymer led to the formation of larger vesicles that were more stable in storage. The incorporation of the extract in the vesicles promoted their beneficial activities as they were capable, to a greater extent than the solution used as reference, of counteracting the toxic effect of hydrogen peroxide and even of speeding up the healing of a wound performed in a cell monolayer, especially when vesicles were enriched with polymers. Given that, polymer enriched vesicles may represent a good strategy to produce cosmetical and cosmeceutical products with beneficial properties for skin

Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Hydro-Glyceric Extracts Obtained from Different Grape Seed Varieties Incorporated in Cosmetic Creams

Grape seeds are agro-industrial by-products, which if improperly managed, may be responsible for socioeconomic and environmental problems. Nevertheless, it is possible to effectively valorize them by means of extraction of the bioactive compounds, especially the antioxidant phenolic molecules, using a safe, green, and environmentally-friendly extractive medium (i.e., hydro-glyceric solution). In the present study, the extraction was performed using seeds from two Lebanese varieties, Obeidi and Asswad Karech, and three international varieties, Marselan, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. The type and amount of phenolic compounds were identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Marselan was the extract richer in catechins (132.99 +/- 9.81 mu g/g of dried matter), and it also contained a higher amount of phenolic compounds (49.08 +/- 0.03 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of dry matter and 10.02 +/- 0.24 mg of proanthocyanidin content/g of dry matter). The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was assessed using three different colorimetric assays including 2,2-DiPhenyl-1-PicrylHydrazyl (DPPH), CUPRIC ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). As expected, Marselan exhibited the highest antioxidant activity; as well, the total phenolic and proanthocyanidin content were the highest. The stability of the Marselan extract incorporated into a commercial cream, was performed at three different temperatures (4, 25, and 50 degrees C), and four different concentrations (5, 4, 3, 2%), over a period of 4 months, using different methods such as centrifugation, Heat-Shock Cycles, pH, and viscosity. All Marselan hydro-glyceric extract formulations were proven to be stable over the entire 4 months, where the highest stability was achieved at 4 degrees C and the least at 50 degrees C. This study supports the suitability of the incorporation of phenolic extracts into commercial creams to enrich the cosmetic industry with effective, natural, and safe skincare products

A Cocktail-Based Formula for the Design of Nanosized Cosmeceuticals as Skincare and Anti-Age Products

Nasco and Bovale grape pomace extracts, alone or in association, were loaded in nanoemulsions tailored for cosmetic application, using Kolliphor((R))RH40 (kolliphor) as the synthetic surfactant, Olivem((R))1000 (olivem) as the natural one, and lecithin as the cosurfactant. Pink transparent or milky dispersions, as a function of the used extract and surfactant, were obtained to be used as cosmeceutical serum or milk. The sizes of the nanoemulsion droplets were small ( approximate to 77 nm with kolliphor and approximate to 141 nm with olivem), homogenously dispersed (similar to 0.24 with kolliphor and similar to 0.16 with olivem), highly negatively charged ( similar to-43 mV irrespective of the used surfactant) and their stability either on storage or under stressing conditions was affected by the used extract and surfactant. Formulations protected the extracts from the degradation caused by UV exposition, were biocompatible against keratinocytes, protected them against oxidative damages induced using hydrogen peroxide and inhibited the release of nitrite induced in macrophages using the lipopolysaccharide inflammatory stimulus. The overall results underlined the key role played by the composition of the formula to achieve a suitable cosmeceutical for skin care but even for the prevention of premature aging and chronic damages caused by the stressing conditions

Saliva, a bodily fluid with recognized and potential diagnostic applications

Human whole saliva is a bodily fluid that can be obtained easily by noninvasive techniques. Specimens can be collected by the patient also at home in order to monitor health status and variations of several analytes of clinical interest. The contributions to whole saliva include secretions from salivary glands and, among others, from the gingival crevicular fluid that derives from the epithelial mucosa. Therefore, saliva is currently a relevant diagnostic fluid for many substances, including steroids, nonpeptide hormones, therapeutic drugs, and drugs of abuse. This review at first briefly describes the different contributions to whole saliva. A section illustrates the procedures for the collection, handling, and storage of salivary specimens. Another section describes the present use of whole saliva for diagnostic purposes and its specific utilization for the diagnosis of several local and systemic diseases. The final sections illustrate the future opportunities offered by various not conventional techniques with a focus on the most recent –omic investigations. It describes the various issues that have to be taken into account to avoid false positives and negatives, such as the strength of the experimental plan, the adequacy of the number of samples under study, and the proper choice of controls

Thymosin beta 4 expression in normal skin, colon mucosa and in tumor infiltrating mast cells

Mast cells (MCs) are metachromatic cells that originate from multipotential hemopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Two distinct populations of MCs have been characterized: mucosal MCs are tryptase-positive while mast cells in skin contain tryptase and chymase. We now show that a sub-population of MCs is highly immunoreactive for thymosin β4, as revealed by immunohistochemical analyses of normal skin, normal colon mucosa and salivary gland tumors. Four consecutive serial sections from each case were immunostained for thymosin β4 (Tβ4), chymase, tryptase and stained for toluidine blue. In skin biopsies, MCs showed a comparable immunoreactivity for Tβ4, chymase and tryptase. In normal colon mucosa the vast majority of mucosal MCs expressed a strong cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for tryptase and for Tβ4, in the absence of chymase reactivity. A robust expression of Tβ4 was detected in tumor-infiltrating and peritumoral mast cells in salivary gland tumors and breast ductal infiltrating carcinomas. Tumorinfiltrating MCs also showed a strong immunoreactivity for chymase and tryptase. In this paper, we first demonstrate that normal dermal and mucosal mast cells exhibit strong expression of thymosin β4, which could be considered a new marker for the identification of mast cells in skin biopsies as well as in human tumors. The possible relationship between the degree of Tβ4 expression in tumor-infiltrating mast cells and tumor behaviour warrants further consideration in future investigations

An outlook on modern and sustainable approaches to the management of grape pomace by integrating green processes, biotechnologies and advanced biomedical approaches

Grape pomace is the main solid residue of wine industry, mainly composed of seeds, skins and stalks, all containing high amounts of valuable phytochemicals. Considering its high potential, in this review, an outlook on different resources and products, which can be obtained by the recovery of grape pomace is provided. Special attention has been devoted to the analysis of chemical, physical and biotechnological processes to be applied and also to the high value compounds and products, such as supplements, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals, that can be manufactured. In particular, in the first part of the review, an update on the composition of grape pomace has been provided along with the analysis of its traditional fate. In the second part, the more modern and green approaches tested to the sustainable management of grape pomace are reported and discussed

Immunoreactivity of thymosin beta 4 in human foetal and adult genitourinary tract

Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) is a member of the beta-thymosins family, a family of peptides playing essential roles in many cellular functions. Our recent studies suggested Tβ4 plays a key role in the development of human salivary glands and the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of Tβ4 in the human adult and foetal genitourinary tract. Immunolocalization of Tβ4 was studied in autoptic samples of kidney, bladder, uterus, ovary, testicle and prostate obtained from four human foetuses and four adults. Presence of the peptide was observed in cells of different origin: in surface epithelium, in gland epithelial cells and in the interstitial cells. Tβ4 was mainly found in adult and foetal bladder in the transitional epithelial cells; in the adult endometrium, glands and stromal cells were immunoreactive for the peptide; Tβ4 was mainly localized in the glands of foetal prostate while, in the adults a weak Tβ4 reactivity was restricted to the stroma. In adult and foetal kidney, Tβ4 reactivity was restricted to ducts and tubules with completely spared glomeruli; a weak positivity was observed in adult and foetal oocytes; immunoreactivity was mainly localized in the interstitial cells of foetal and adult testis. In this study, we confirm that Tβ4 could play a relevant role during human development, even in the genitourinary tract, and reveal that immunoreactivity for this peptide may change during postnatal and adult life

Valorization of wine‐making by‐products’ extracts in cosmetics

The increased demand for conscious, sustainable and beneficial products by the consumers has pushed researchers from both industries and universities worldwide to search for smart strategies capable of reducing the environmental footprint, especially the ones connected with industrial wastes. Among various by-products, generally considered as waste, those obtained by winemaking industries have attracted the attention of a wide variety of companies, other than the vineries. In particular, grape pomaces are considered of interest due to their high content in bioactive molecules, especially phenolic compounds. The latter can be recovered from grape pomace and used as active ingredients in easily marketable cosmetic products. Indeed, phenolic compounds are well known for their remarkable beneficial properties at the skin level, such as antioxidant, antiaging, anti-hyperpigmentation and photoprotective effects. The exploitation of the bioactives contained in grape pomaces to obtain high value cosmetics may support the growing of innovative start-ups and expand the value chain of grapes. This review aims to describe the strategies for recovery of polyphenols from grape pomace, to highlight the beneficial potential of these extracts, both in vitro and in vivo, and their potential utilization as active ingredients in cosmetic products

Control of skin damages caused by oxidative stress using mangiferin and naringin co-loaded in phospholipid vesicles

Mangiferin and naringin, two naturally occurring antioxidant molecules, were co-loaded in phospholipid vesicles designed for skin delivery. Ultradeformable-liposomes containing tween 80 as edge activator, were used as basic formulation, which was modified adding glycerol (glycerosomes) or a mixture of glycerol and ethanol (etglycerosomes) and further enriched with a polymer, sodium hyaluronate (glycerohyalurosomes and etglycerohyalurosomes), to evaluate the role of vesicle composition on their features and performances. Mean dimeter, polydispersity index and zeta potential of prepared vesicles were measured along with their stabilitcay on storage for 90 days, rheological behavior and suitability as systems for the delivery of these active molecules into and through the skin. Vesicles enriched with sodium hyaluronate were the most stable and the smallest and favored the deposition of both mangiferin and naringin in the whole skin, in a better extent than those without polymer. All the vesicles were highly biocompatible and capable of protecting fibroblasts against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damages in vitro. Once more, glycerohyalurosomes and et-glycerohyalurosomes where those which improved the most the beneficial effect of mangiferin and naringin, as they were capable of effectively counteracting the formation of skin lesion, or even promoting the wound healing, thanks to their greater ability to inhibit both myeloperoxydase activity and oedema formation in vivo in a model mouse in which wound was induced using phorbol acetate