Cosmeceutical properties of levan produced by Zymomonas mobilis

Abstract

Levan, a polysaccharide that can be produced by both plants and micro‐organisms, is a sugar polymer composed of fructose, with‐2,6 linkages. Here, we have attempted to assess the possible use of levan produced by Zymomonas mobilis as a cosmeceutical ingredient. In service of this goal, we assessed a host of levan's properties, including its moisturizing effects, cell cytotoxicity, cell proliferation effects and anti‐inflammation effects. Levan exhibited a moisturizing effect that was almost exactly the same as that evidenced by hyaluronic acid, as well as a similar cell proliferation effect in human fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. Moreover, in our cell proliferation test, which was conducted using bio‐artificial skin constructed via 3‐dimensional (3‐D) culture after the induction of primary skin inflammation with 0.05% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), cell viability in the presence of levan (0.01 and 0.05 mg mL–1) was determined to be higher than cell viability in the absence of levan. In our anti‐inflammation test, which was also conducted using 3‐D artificial skin, and which involved the measurement of a quantity of secreted interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), a pre‐inflammatory mediator induced by SLS, we determined that the quantity of IL‐1 in the 3‐D artificial skin treated with 0.01 and 0.05 mg mL–1 of levan was less than that registered in a skin sample that had been treated only with SLS. In this study, we determined that levan exerted an anti‐inflammatory effect against inflammatory reactions to skin irritants, and also that levan exerted a cell‐proliferative effect in bio‐artificial skin, thereby indicating its potential applicability as a cosmeceutical agent.

Levan-Producing Leuconostoc citreum Strain BD1707 and Its Growth in Tomato Juice Supplemented with Sucrose

“…For pharmaceutical application, levan has been used as a blood plasma volume extender (6), anti-obesity agent, hypocholesterolemic agent, antitumor agent, hypolipidemic agent, antidiabetic agent, antiviral agent, and antipathogenic agent (7). Owing to its positive properties in terms of moisturizing effect, cell cytotoxicity, cell proliferation effect, and anti-inflammation, levan can also be utilized in cosmetic products (8).…”

Bacterial Polysaccharides: Production and Applications in Cosmetic Industry

“…Levan demonstrated good cell protective effects for irritation caused by sodium laureth sulfate (SLS). This outcome was probably related to the anti-inflammatory effect of levan, as shown by the reduced secretion of interleukin 1α (a proinflammatory mediator) compared to the control that was not treated with levan (Kim et al 2005). The moisturizing effect of levan has been evaluated in a human volunteers test (ten 22-37-year-old female subjects).…”

Structural Modelling and Structure-Function Analysis of <i>Zymomonas mobilis</i> Levansucrase

“…FOS can be produced from inulin degradation or by transfructosylation reactions [2,3,4]. Levans are longer fructose polymers, which can be used in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and medicine industries [5,6]. In the food industry, levan can be used as an emulsifier, flavour modifier, stabilizer, thickener and encapsulation agent [7].…”