The mixture of the two pentacyclic triterpenes ␣-amyrin and ␤-amyrin, isolated from the resin of Protium kleinii and given by intraperitoneal (i.p.) or oral (p.o.) routes, caused dose-related and significant antinociception against the visceral pain in mice produced by i.p. injection of acetic acid. Moreover, i.p., p.o., intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), or intrathecal (i.t.) administration of ␣,␤-amyrin inhibited both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the overt nociception caused by intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of formalin. Likewise, ␣,␤-amyrin given by i.p., p.o., i.t., or i.c.v. routes inhibits the neurogenic nociception induced by capsaicin. Moreover, i.p. treatment with ␣,␤-amyrin was able to reduce the nociception produced by 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) and by 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or the hyperalgesia caused by glutamate. On the other hand, in contrast to morphine, ␣,␤-amyrin failed to cause analgesia in thermal models of pain. The antinociception caused by the mixture of compounds seems to involve mechanisms independent of opioid, ␣-adrenergic, serotoninergic, and nitrergic system mediation, since it was not affected by naloxone, prazosin, yohimbine, DL-pchlorophenylalanine methyl ester, or L-arginine. Interestingly, the i.p. administration of ␣,␤-amyrin reduced the mechanical hyperalgesia produced by i.pl. injection of carrageenan, capsaicin, bradykinin, substance P, prostaglandin E 2 , 8-BrcAMP, and TPA in rats. However, the mixture of compounds failed to alter the binding sites of It is concluded that the mixture of triterpene ␣-amyrin and ␤-amyrin produced consistent peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal antinociception in rodents, especially when assessed in inflammatory models of pain. The mechanisms involved in their action are not completely understood but seem to involve the inhibition of protein kinase A-and protein kinase C-sensitive pathways.

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Três triterpenos pentacíclicos inéditos foram isolados da resina de Protium kleinii. Suas estruturas, 3-oxo-11β,16β-diidróxi-urs-12-eno (1), 3-oxo-11β-hidróxi-urs-12-eno (2) e 3-oxo-11β-hidróxi-olean-12-eno (3), foram elucidadas por espectroscopia de RMN. A administração sistêmica destes compostos (10-100 mg kg -1 , i.p.) foi capaz de inibir tanto a primeira quanto a segunda fase da nocicepção induzida pela formalina em camundongos. Em adição, foram isolados os triterpenos conhecidos 3β,16β-dihidróxi-urs-12-eno (breina) (4) e uma mistura de α (5)-e β-amirina (6).Three novel pentacyclic triterpenes have been isolated from the resin of Protium kleinii and their structures elucidated by NMR spectroscopy as 3-oxo-11β,16β-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene (1), 3-oxo-11β-hydroxy-urs-12-ene (2) and 3-oxo-11β-hydroxy-olean-12-ene (3). The systemic administration of the above compounds (10-100 mg kg -1 , i.p.) was able to inhibited both first and second phase of the formalin-induced nociception in mice. The known triterpenes 3β,16β-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene (brein) (4) and a mixture of α (5)-and β-amyrin (6) were also found.

Skin health is not only significantly affected by ageing, but also by other lifestyle-related factors, such as sun exposure, exercise and eating habits, smoking or alcohol intake. It is known that the cutaneous tissue can exhibit visible signs of senescence, in the form of, for example, dull complexion, loss of firmness, or changes in pigmentation. Consumers attempt to improve skin health and appearance not only by cosmetic products, but also with the consumption of food supplements. Recently, there has been an increase in the amount of food supplements with claims that are related to skin and hair health. Nevertheless, the literature is still scarce in evidence of the efficacy of this type of products. Considering this scenario, we aim in this review to assemble studies and methodologies that are directed at the substantiation of the cutaneous health claims of food supplements. For example, we reviewed those that were indicative of antioxidant properties, improvement in pigmentation disorders, increased hydration or protection against the damages caused by ultraviolet radiation.

Urocanic acid is a chromophore found in the skin that has been identified as an important immunosuppressant and carcinogenesis mediator through its photoisomerization from trans to cis form induced by ultraviolet radiation. Research on analytical methods that explore urocanic acid isomerization is indispensable to fully understand the deleterious effects mediated by this biomarker. In this context, the current relevant analytical methods for determination of these isomers in human samples are summarized in this review. The methods presented here are applicable to human samples collected by noninvasive methods (or minimally invasive), encompassing an array of analytical techniques, including high‐performance capillary electrophoresis, confocal Raman spectroscopy, gas chromatography, high‐performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry, among others. Developed high‐performance liquid chromatography methods have proven to be advantageous, allowing noninvasive collections for in vivo analysis and the confocal Raman, specially, for real‐time analysis. Among all these methods, high‐performance liquid chromatography is the most investigated one with mass spectrometry or ultraviolet detector, and the mass spectrometry detector being the most studied in the last years, demonstrating high sensitivity, very low detection limits, and accurate identification, especially for clinical investigations.

Azadirachta indica (Neem) is a large tree that is native to India and is traditionally used due to its several properties, mainly to treat skin diseases, as well as its “herbicidal” activity. Its bark, leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers are widely used in medicinal treatment due to the presence of active secondary metabolites with biological effects, mainly limonoids and tetranortriterpenoids, such as azadirachtin. Thus, A. indica was studied in a variety of conditions, such as anticancer, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive agents, as well as a biopesticide. Furthermore, differentiated cell tissue in A. indica cultivation was reported to produce active metabolites for different purposes. However, only a few studies have been developed regarding its potential use in cosmetics. For instance, most studies explained the antimicrobial properties in health conditions, such as acne, dandruff and personal health care. Here, we summarized not only the most common cosmetic claims to treat acne but also mitigating other skin disorders related to inflammatory and oxidant processes in recent in vivo studies and patents to aid researchers and industrialists to select A. indica derivatives as novel cosmetic ingredients.