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Metabolites resulting from the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers, such as short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, play important roles in maintaining gut health and regulating various biological effects in the skin. However, butyrate is underutilized due to its unpleasant odor. To circumvent this organoleptic unfavorable property, phenylalanine butyramide (PBA), a butyrate precursor, has been synthesized and is currently available on the market. We evaluated the inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by butyrate and PBA through in vitro assays, finding IC50 values of 34.7 mM and 120.3 mM, respectively. Docking calculations using a homology model of human tyrosinase identified a putative binding mode of PBA into the catalytic site. The anti-aging and anti-spot efficacy of topical PBA was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 43 women affected by photo-damage. The results of this study showed that PBA significantly improved skin conditions compared to the placebo and was well tolerated. Specifically, PBA demonstrated strong skin depigmenting activity on both UV and brown spots (UV: −12.7% and −9.9%, Bs: −20.8% and −17.7% after 15 and 30 days, respectively, p < 0.001). Moreover, PBA brightened and lightened the skin (ITA°: +12% and 13% after 15 and 30 days, respectively, p < 0.001). Finally, PBA significantly improved skin elasticity (Ua/Uf: +12.4% and +32.3% after 15 and 30 days, respectively, p < 0.001) and firmness (Uf: −3.2% and −14.9% after 15 and 30 days, respectively, p < 0.01).

Over the preceding five decades, there has been a noticeable surge in the pursuit of achieving voluminous and well-defined lips. This trend has prompted an escalating number of individuals to undergo lip augmentation procedures, aiming for a natural three-dimensional enhancement of lip volume and distinct vermilion borders. Despite the proliferation of lip augmentation techniques, there remains a dearth of comprehensive investigations into their precise effects on the three-dimensional structural integrity of the lips. This research endeavors to address this gap by employing stereophotogrammetry as a quantitative tool to scrutinize lip augmentation outcomes and to appraise the efficacy of lip plumpers. The study methodology involves a comparative analysis of lip dimensions among subjects treated with a commercial lip plumper using multi-spectral imaging for lip dimension assessment, coupled with markerless tracking technology and 3D interpolating surface methodology to analyze lip volume and shape. Additionally, the study evaluated lip youth state, including moisture level, softness, firmness, and tissue density. The demand for lip augmentation procedures is driven by perceived advantages such as quick recovery and minimal risk. Therefore, it is crucial to substantiate their efficacy with robust findings. The investigation suggests that both 3D and 2D stereophotogrammetry techniques are reliable for evaluating lip size before and after augmentation, whether through cosmetic or aesthetic approaches. Overall, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of a lip treatment aimed at enhancing volume and redesigning lip lines. It demonstrates that stereophotogrammetry is effective for assessing 3D lip dimensions and their correlation with internal lip structure. This research could be particularly valuable for evaluating the efficacy and duration of various lip enhancement techniques, including dermal fillers, implants, and topical cosmetic formulations, offering quantitative and reproducible assessments over time.

Melatonin is ubiquitously present in all animals and plants, where it exerts a variety of physiological activities thanks to its antioxidant properties and its key role as the first messenger of extracellular signaling functions. Most of the clinical studies on melatonin refer to its widespread oral use as a dietary supplement to improve sleep. A far smaller number of articles describe the clinical applications of topical melatonin to treat or prevent skin disorders by exploiting its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This review focuses on the clinical studies in which melatonin was applied on the skin as a photoprotective, anti-aging, or hair growth-promoting agent. The methodologies and results of such studies are discussed to provide an overall picture of the state of the art in this intriguing field of research. The clinical studies in which melatonin was applied on the skin before exposure to radiation (UV, sunlight, and high-energy beams) were all characterized by an appropriate design (randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled) and strongly support its clinical efficacy in preventing or reducing skin damage such as dermatitis, erythema, and sunburn. Most of the studies examined in this review do not provide a clear demonstration of the efficacy of topical melatonin as a skin anti-aging or as a hair growth-promoting agent owing to limitations in their design and/or to the use of melatonin combined with extra active ingredients, except for one trial that suggests a possible beneficial role of melatonin in treating some forms of alopecia in women. Further research efforts are required to reach definitive conclusions concerning the actual benefits of topical melatonin to counteract skin aging and hair loss.

Chronic wounds are marked by an extended healing period during which damaged tissues fail to undergo orderly and timely repair. Examples of chronic wounds encompass venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers. The process of wound healing is complex and dynamic, relying on the interplay and response among various cells and mediators. In this study, four marketed wound dressing products based on cotton gauzes impregnated with different semisolid products (namely Betadine® 10%, Connettivina® Bio Plus Fitostimoline® Plus, and Non-Ad® gauzes) have been characterized for their physicochemical properties and ex vivo behaviors. More in detail, the pH and rheological features of semisolid formulations impregnating the gauzes were analyzed along with their ability to adhere to the gauzes. The most promising ones were selected and compared in ex vivo experiments on fresh pig skin. The pH measurements showed an acidic environment for all the tested solutions, albeit with variations in mean values, ranging from 2.66 to 4.50. The outcomes of rheological studies demonstrated that all the semisolid preparations impregnating the gauzes exhibited a pseudoplastic behavior, with significant differences in the pseudoplasticity index across the preparations, which is likely to influence their ability to adhere to the gauze. A rheological study in oscillatory mode revealed rheological behavior typical of a viscous solution only for the cream impregnating non-paraffin gauzes. The other products exhibited rheological behavior typical of a weak gel, which is expected to be advantageous as regards the capability of the semisolid preparation to create and maintain the space within the wound and to provide protection to the injured tissue. Results of ex vivo experiments demonstrated that Fitostimoline® Plus was more effective than Connettivina® Bio Plus in promoting both skin hydration and energy.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and natural bioactive compounds to combat age-related ailments and enhance longevity. A Cordyceps sinensis mycelium hydroethanolic extract (CsEx), which was standardized in cordycepin and adenosine using UHPLC-DAD, was investigated for its adaptogenic properties using in vitro assays and a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 40 subjects. The CsEx demonstrated activity at a concentration of 0.0006%, significantly increasing sirtuin expression (SirT1: +33%, SirT3: +10%, SirT6: +72%, vs. CTR, p < 0.05) and NAD+ synthesis in HaCat cells (+20% vs. CTR, p < 0.001). Moreover, the CsEx boosted ATP production by 68% in skin cells, correlating with higher skin energy values (+52.0% at D28, p < 0.01) in the clinical trial. Additionally, CsEx notably reduced cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 30% in HaCaT cells (p < 0.05) and enhanced collagen production both in vitro (+69% vs. CTR, p < 0.01) and in vivo (+10% vs. D0, p < 0.01), confirmed by ultrasound examination. Furthermore, CsEx’s stimulation of fibroblasts, coupled with its antioxidant and energizing properties, led to a significant reduction in wrinkles by 28.0% (D28, p < 0.001). This study underscores Cordyceps sinensis hydroethanolic extract’s potential in regulating skin cell energy metabolism and positively influencing the mechanisms associated with skin longevity control.

The identification of natural remedies for the management of the skin aging process is an increasingly growing issue. In this context, ursolic acid (UA), a ubiquitous molecule, mainly contained in Annurca apple (AA) fruit, has demonstrated valuable cosmetic potential. To this end, in the current study, the AA oleolite (AAO, extract in sunflower oil containing 784.40 ± 7.579 µg/mL of UA) was evaluated to inhibit porcine elastase enzymatic reactions through a validated spectrophotometric method. AAO has shown a valuable capacity to contrast the elastase enzyme with a calculated IC50 of 212.76 mg/mL, in comparison to UA (IC50 of 135.24 μg/mL) pure molecules and quercetin (IC50 of 72.47 μg/mL) which are used as positive controls. In this context and in view of the valuable antioxidant potential of AAO, its topical formulation with 2.5% (w/w) AAO was tested in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-arm clinical study on 40 volunteers. Our results indicated that after 28 days of treatment, a significant reduction of the nasolabial fold (−7.2 vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001) and forehead wrinkles (−5.3 vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001) were registered in combination with a valuable improvement of the viscoelastic skin parameters, where skin pliability/firmness (R0) and gross elasticity (R2) were significantly ameliorated (−13% vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001 for R0 and +12% vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001 for R2). Finally, considering the positive correlation between skin elasticity and hydration, the skin moisture was evaluated through the estimation of Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin conductance.

Urolithiasis is a complex and multifactorial disease characterized by the formation of calculi at the urinary tract level. Conventional therapeutic prophylaxis relies on the use of Ca-blockers, alkalis, diuretics, and anti-edema agents, but their prolonged utilization is often limited by several side effects. In this scenario, the aim of the present work was the design of an innovative multi-component nutraceutical formulation (NF) for the management of urinary stones consisting of a synergistic combination of natural aqueous extracts of Oreganum vulgare L. (1% of saponin), Urtica dioica (0.8% of β-sitosterol), Phyllanthus niruri (15% of tannins w/w), and Ceterach officinarum in association with bromelain, K, and Mg citrate. To assess the potential of NF also in the treatment of uric acid (UA) stones, the effects on the expression of the cellular UA transporters OAT1 and URAT1 were investigated in a renal tubular cell line. In addition, the myorelaxant effect of NF was investigated in a human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (HPASMC) model resulting in a decreased muscle contractility of −49.4% (p < 0.01) compared to the control. The treatment with NF also showed a valuable inhibition of in vitro calcium-oxalate crystal formation, both in prevention (−52.3% vs. control, p < 0.01) and treatment (−70.8% vs. control, p < 0.01) experiments. Finally, an ischemic reperfusion rat model was used to evaluate the NF anti-edema effects, resulting in a reduction in the edema-related vascular permeability (Normalized Gray Levels, NGL = 0.40 ± 0.09, p < 0.01, −67.1% vs. untreated rats). In conclusion, the present NF has shown to be a promising natural alternative for managing urinary tract stones.

New nanocomposites containing zirconium were synthesized using microwave irradiation. Their structure was confirmed by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) curves, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. After the structure confirmation of the zirconium magnetic nanocomposite, the catalytic properties in the synthesis of pyrazole derivatives were investigated. Next, the biological activities of the zirconium magnetic nanocomposite, such as the antibacterial and antifungal activities, were investigated. The research results showed that the zirconium magnetic nanocomposite has high catalytic properties and can be used as a magnetic nanocatalyst for synthesizing heterocyclic compounds such as pyrazole derivatives in addition to having high biological properties. The unique properties of the nanoparticles can be attributed to their synthesis method and microwave radiation.

In order to improve product format quality and material flexibility, variety of application, and cost-effectiveness, SiC, ZrO2, and Al hybrid composites were manufactured in the research utilizing the powder metallurgy (PM) technique. A model was created to predict the tribological behavior of SiC–ZrO2–Al hybrid composites using statistical data analysis and gene expression programming (GEP) based on artificial intelligence. For the purpose of examining the impact of zirconia concentration, sliding distance, and applied stress on the wear behavior of hybrid composites, a comprehensive factor design of experiments was used. The developed GEP model was sufficiently robust to achieve extremely high accuracy in the prediction of the determine coefficient (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the root relative square error (RRSE). The maximum state of the RMSE was 0.4357 for the GEP-1 (w1) model and the lowest state was 0.7591 for the GEP-4 (w1) model, while the maximum state of the RRSE was 0.4357 for the GEP-1 (w1) model and the minimum state was 0.3115 for the GEP-3 model (w1).

An obvious sign of ageing is the loss of hair colour due to a decrease or lack of melanin in hair fibres. An examination of the lipid levels and structure of grey hair determined using µ–FTIR revealed a high correlation between the characteristics of lipids located in the cuticle and the water dynamics of the fibres. Therefore, a deep study based on external and internal lipid extraction, an analysis using thin layer chromatography coupled to an automated flame ionisation detector, calorimetric analyses and the physico-chemical evaluation of the delipidated fibres were performed. Hairs were evaluated to identify changes in the organisation of these lipids using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and their effect on the water dynamics of the fibres. The primary differences observed for the lipid extracts from white hair compared to brown hair were the lower amount of the internal lipids extracted, which were primarily composed of free fatty acids (FFAs) and ceramides, with a higher content of lower phase transition peaks, indicating increased unsaturated compounds that promote higher fluidity of the lipid bilayers. The virgin white fibres exhibited lower levels of embedded water, with lower binding energies and higher water diffusion, indicating higher permeability. The IR study confirmed the low lipid levels and the greater disorder of white hair. These results may be of interest for cosmetic treatments to which patients with grey hair may be subjected.

A method was set up and validated to identify and quantify seven parabens in each of the three skin layers, i.e., Stratum Corneum, Epidermis, and Dermis, because, even if only some analogues are legally allowed in Europe, forbidden parabens are also detected in many personal care products and therefore can be absorbed by the skin. A solid/liquid extraction followed by a gradient elution chromatographic separation method was performed and validated according to European guidelines. Our validated method afforded the detection of all seven parabens with limit of detection values ranging from 0.026 to 0.090 μg mL−1 and recoveries ranging from 61.80 to 105.73 μg mL−1 at high and low concentration values (50.0–5.0 μg mL−1), respectively. The proposed method can help assess paraben’s skin bioaccumulation since people are repeatedly exposed to consumer goods containing parabens in their daily routine, posing a chronic risk to human health.

Parabens (PBs) are used as preservatives to extend the shelf life of various foodstuffs, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations. In this work, the membrane barrier passage potential of a subset of seven parabens, i.e., methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, and benzyl paraben, along with their parent compound, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, were studied. Thus, the Franz cell diffusion (FDC) method, biomimetic liquid chromatography (BLC), and in silico prediction were performed to evaluate the soundness of both describing their permeation through the skin. While BLC allowed the achievement of a full scale of affinity for membrane phospholipids of the PBs under research, the permeation of parabens through Franz diffusion cells having a carbon chain > ethyl could not be measured in a fully aqueous medium, i.e., permeation enhancer-free conditions. Our results support that BLC and in silico prediction alone can occasionally be misleading in the permeability potential assessment of these preservatives, emphasizing the need for a multi-technique and integrated experimental approach.

The concentration levels of thirteen organic pollutants and selected heavy metals were investigated in 40 plastics bottled and tap water samples. Some of the selected contaminants have an ascertained or suspected endocrine disrupting activity, such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs, and Bis 2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which are used by industries as plasticizers. The most frequently detected pollutants were Bisphenol AF (BPAF) (detection frequency (DF) = 67.5%, mean 387.21 ng L−1), DEHP (DF = 62.5%, mean 46.19 µg L−1) and BPA (DF = 60.0%, mean 458.57 ng L−1), with higher concentration levels found in tap waters. Furthermore, a possible level of exposure to thirteen pollutants via drinking water intake was calculated. Our findings show that, even though the occurrence of contaminants and heavy metals in drinking waters does not pose an immediate, acute health risk for the population, their levels should be constantly monitored and “hard-wired” into everyday practice. Indeed, the health impact to the continuous and simultaneous intake of a huge variety of xenobiotics from various sources by humans is complex and still not fully understood.

Medicinal plants from traditional chinese medicine are used increasingly worldwide for their benefits to health and quality of life for the relevant clinical symptoms related to pain. Among them, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is traditionally used in asian countries as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. In this context, several evidences support the hypothesis that some tanshinones, in particular cryptotanshinone (CRY), extracted from the roots (Danshen) of this plant exhibit analgesic actions. However, it is surprisingly noted that no pharmacological studies have been carried out to explore the possible analgesic action of this compound in terms of modulation of peripheral and/or central pain.Therefore, in the present study, by using peripheral and central pain models of nociception, such as tail flick and hot plate test, the analgesic effect of CRY in mice was evaluated. Successively, by the aim of a computational approach, we have evaluated the interaction mode of this diterpenoid on opioid and cannabinoid system. Finally, CRY was dosed in mice serum by an HPLC method validated according to European Medicines Agency guidelines validation rules.Here, we report that CRY displayed anti-nociceptive activity on both hot plate and tail flick test, with a prominent long-lasting peripheral analgesic effect. These evidences were indirectly confirmed after the daily administration of the tanshinone for 7 and 14 days. In addition, the analgesic effect of CRY was reverted by naloxone and cannabinoid antagonists and amplified by arginine administration. These findings were finally supported by HPLC and docking studies, that revealed a noteworthy presence of CRY on mice serum 1 h after its intraperitoneal administration and a possible interaction of tested compound on μ and k receptors.Taken together, these results provide a new line of evidences showing that CRY can produce analgesia against various phenotypes of nociception with a mechanism that seems to be related to an agonistic activity on opioid system.

Human skin is colonized by diverse commensal microbes, making up the skin microbiota (SM), contributing to skin integrity and homeostasis. Many of the beneficial effects aroused by the SM are exerted by microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyric acid. The SCFAs can be used in cosmetic formulations against skin diseases to protect SM by preserving and/or restoring their natural balance. Unpleasant sensorial properties and unfavorable physico-chemical properties of butyrate strongly limit its cosmetic use. In contrast, some butyrate derivatives, including phenylalanine butyramide (C13H18N2O2, FBA), a solid form of butyric acid, are odorless while retaining the pharmacokinetic properties and safety profile of butyric acid. This study assessed the FBA’s permeation across the skin and its soothing and anti-reddening potential to estimate its cosmetic application. The dosage method used to estimate FBA’s levels was validated to be sure of analytical results. The FBA diffusion tests were estimated in vitro using a Franz-type vertical diffusion cell. The soothing action was evaluated in vivo by Colorimeter CL400, measuring the erythema index. The results suggest that the FBA represents an innovative way to exploit the benefits of butyric acid in the cosmetic fields since it cannot reach the bloodstream, is odorless, and has a significative soothing action (decrease the erythema index −15.7% after 30′, and −17.8% after 60′).

The determination of alcohol, SO2, and total acids in wine through conventional laboratory techniques have some limitations related to the amount of the samples, analytical preparation of laboratory staff, and time to carry out the analysis. In recent years, spectroscopic and chromatographic methods have been proposed to determinate simultaneously multiple analytical parameters. The new methods claim the speed of analysis and easy execution. However, they need a validation process that guarantees the reliability of the results to be used in official determinations. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of FT-infrared reflectance (FT-IR) to quantify total acid, alcohol, and SO2 concentration in the wines. For this purpose, 156 DOC Italian wines were tested with IR technology, and results were compared to those obtained by official analysis methods. The comparison was performed using two non-parametric statistical methods: the Bland & Altman test and Passing & Bablok regression. Our results showed that the spectrophotometric methods make errors due to interfering contaminants in the sample that can be corrected by blank determination. Therefore, the spectrophotometric methods that use the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used by the wine industry and regulators for the wine routine as an alternative to official methodologies.

Psychological stress activates catecholamine production, determines oxidation processes, and alters the lipid barrier functions in the skin. Scientific evidence associated with the detoxifying effect of fruits and vegetables, the growing awareness of the long-term issues related to the use of chemical-filled cosmetics, the aging of the population, and the increase in living standards are the factors responsible for the growth of food-derived ingredients in the cosmetics market. A Ficus carica cell suspension culture extract (FcHEx) was tested in vitro (on keratinocytes cells) and in vivo to evaluate its ability to manage the stress-hormone-induced damage in skin. The FcHEx reduced the epinephrine (−43% and −24% at the concentrations of 0.002% and 0.006%, respectively), interleukin 6 (−38% and −36% at the concentrations of 0.002% and 0.006%, respectively), lipid peroxide (−25%), and protein carbonylation (−50%) productions; FcHEx also induced ceramide synthesis (+150%) and ameliorated the lipid barrier performance. The in vivo experiments confirmed the in vitro test results. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL; −12.2%), sebum flow (−46.6% after two weeks and −73.8% after four weeks; on the forehead −56.4% after two weeks and −80.1% after four weeks), and skin lightness (+1.9% after two weeks and +2.7% after four weeks) defined the extract’s effects on the skin barrier. The extract of the Ficus carica cell suspension cultures reduced the transepidermal water loss, the sebum production, the desquamation, and facial skin turning to a pale color from acute stress, suggesting its role as an ingredient to fight the signs of psychological stress in the skin.

Vinegar is produced from the fermentation of agricultural materials and diluted acetic acid (diluted with water to 4–30% by volume) via sequential ethanol and acetic acid fermentation. The concentration of acetic acid must be measured during vinegar production. A Community method for analyzing acetic acid in vinegar is a non-specific method based on the assumption that the total acid concentration of the vinegar is attributable to the acetic acid. It consists of titration with a strong base in the presence of an indicator. This test is laborious and has a time-consuming character. In this work, a highly specific automated enzymatic method was validated, for the first time, to quantify the acetic acid in the wine vinegar, in terms of linearity, precision, repeatability, and uncertainty measurement. The results were compared to the Community method of analysis. Regression coefficient ≅ 1 and the normal distribution of residuals in the ANOVA test confirmed the method’s linearity. LLOD (0.946 ppm) and LLOQ (2.00 ppm) defined the method’s sensitivity. The results of the tested and the Community methods, linearly distributed in the Shapiro–Wilk test, confirmed the method’s repeatability. The few anomalous data in the Huber test were due to random errors. The high selectivity of the enzymatic method, which exclusively measures acetic acid concentration, determined the significant differences between the two tests, examined in the accuracy determination. The enzymatic method can be considered applicable since its precision and uncertainty were lower than the Community method values (relative percentage deviations = 10%). The enzymatic method compared to the Community method reduces the analysis time and the risk of errors due to operators (avoid pipetting errors and wrong calculations), minimizes solvent and the sample consumption and guarantees assay quality through method standardization.