Ameliorative Effect of Hochu-ekki-to on Natural Skin Aging

Abstract

Introduction: Although it is beneficial to protect the skin from natural aging, especially in an aging society, the approach by which this can be achieved is still not well known. Hochu-ekki-to, a Chinese natural medicine, has various advantageous effects; however, there is no report about its influence on skin aging. Objective: Therefore, we examined the effect of hochu-ekki-to against natural aging. Methods: Hairless mice, bred without ultraviolet ray irradiation and physical stress, were orally administered huchu-ekki-to 3 times per week for 2 years. After that period, degree of skin hydration and permeability were measured. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin histochemistry was performed to determine the morphology and condition of the tissues. Lastly, levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plasma and skin, as well as concentration of hyaluronic acid in the skin, were measured. Results: Signs of skin aging were ameliorated by administration of hochu-ekki-to, such as moisture retention, skin hydration, and the generation of wrinkles. Furthermore, vitamin A, vitamin C, collagen type I, collagen type III, fibroblasts, and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin increased, while levels of ROS decreased after hochu-ekki-to treatment. Conclusion: These results indicated that natural skin aging was ameliorated by treatment with hochu-ekki-to, specifically moisture retention, and skin hydration, and thickening, via the regulation of the vitamin C/ fibroblast, collagen type III/collagen type I, and vitamin A/ hyaluronic acid signaling pathways.

A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies of the Efficacy of Herbal Medicines for Anti-Aging in the Last Five Years

“…As for the countries where the experiments were conducted, China had the most cases (n = 20) [ 8 , 9 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 19 , 23 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ], followed by Japan (n = 8) [ 12 , 20 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ], Korea (n = 6) [ 24 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 ] and Taiwan (n = 3) [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Thailand [ 18 ], the United States [ 17 ], Mexico [ 11 ] and Poland [ 25 ] were each associated with one study.…”

“…In herbal medicine extraction, 17 studies used water extraction [ 9 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 27 , 31 , 33 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 45 , 47 , 48 ]; 6 studies used ethanol [ 10 , 16 , 18 , 24 , 34 , 35 ]; and 2 studies used carbon dioxide fluid [ 23 , 26 ]. Three studies used a suspension of the herbal formula Guilingji [ 15 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…One study did not report the route of administration [ 11 ]. Eighteen studies tested the dose of herbal medicine at a single concentration [ 11 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 24 , 28 , 31 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 46 , 48 , 50 ], and in 21 studies, 2 or 3 types of concentrations were tested [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 41 , 45 , 47 ]. The other two studies did not report the dosage used [ 12 , 44 ].…”

“…The animals used in the experiments were Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 15) [ 11 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 22 , 24 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 47 ], C57BL/6 mice (n = 8) [ 8 , 10 , 28 , 31 , 36 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], Kunming mice (n = 4) [ 19 , 23 , 26 , 27 ], ICR mice (n = 3) [ 9 , 39 , 48 ], senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice (n = 3) [ 12 , 20 , 40 ], BALB/c mice (n = 2) [ 37 , 38 ], hairless mice (n = 2) [ 42 , 43 ], CB6F1 mice (n = 1) [ 17 ], Swiss mice (n = 1) [ 25 ], Wistar Kyoto rats (n = 1) [ 21 ], Wild-type and NPY knockout mice (n = 1) [ 44 ] and Klotho-hypomorphic (kl/kl/) mice (n = 1) [ 41 ]. Regarding sex, five studies used both male and female mice or rats [ 17 , 27 , …”

Effects of Hochuekkito, a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo), on reproduction of aging female mice

“…10 HET showed anti-inflammatory effects on several chronic inflammatory conditions including aging. [12][13][14] In infertility treatment, HET was demonstrated to improve the fertile competence in idiopathic male infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome through immunomodulatory actions. [15][16][17] However, there is no study on the anti-inflammatory effects of HET on aging females.…”