Improvement of Biophysical Skin Parameters of Topically Applied Fermented Soybean Extract-Loaded Niosomes with No Systemic Toxicity in Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract

Despite the known beneficial impacts of estrogen used as hormone replacement therapy to ameliorate signs of skin aging in postmenopausal women, its compliance rates are low. A significant amount of estrogen may be absorbed into the blood circulation and can lead to systemic actions. Soy isoflavone exhibits biological activities similar to synthetic estrogen because it is a heterocyclic phenolic compound. The disadvantage of most topical ingredients based on isoflavone is that they contain biologically inactive glycoside forms, which must be converted to a readily absorbed aglycone for the topical application. The purposes of this study were to develop niosomes-loaded Aspergillus oryzae-fermented soybean extract (FSE) to enhance skin absorption with proven systemic side effect compared to estrogen application. Skin hydration and viscoelasticity of 75 days post-ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats following 84-day topical treatment with various tested gel formulations containing fermented soybean extract (FSE) were evaluated. The tested formulations were gel + FSE nanoniosomes, gel + FSE microniosomes, gel + FSE (200 µg FSE/9 cm2/rat), gel + blank nanoniosomes (a negative control), and gel + 17β-estradiol (E2) nanoniosomes (a positive control, 20 µg E2/9 cm2/rat). Changes in vaginal cornifications and weights of uteri, livers, and kidneys in the OVX rats and signs of primary skin irritation in the rabbits were evaluated for their toxicities. Results showed that FSE-loaded nanoniosomes improved the skin hydration and viscoelasticity better than gel + FSE microniosomes and gel + FSE, respectively, but lower than those of gel + E2 nanoniosomes (p < 0.05). Unlike all gel + E2 nanoniosomes, the FSE formulations showed no changes in vaginal cells and weights of uteri, livers, and kidneys and no signs of skin irritation. In conclusion, The FSE niosome-based gels should be promising candidates for delivering phytoestrogens against signs of skin aging with no systemic toxicities.

Biotransformed soybean cream as a new nutraceutical for skin care: collagen stimulation in vitro and ex vivo

“…In fact, soybean extracts have gained great importance in the area of skin health due to the marked presence of secondary metabolites with medicinal effects, such as isoflavones, that might help in the combat of skin damage effects of menopause ( 3 , 11 ). The isoflavones genistein and daidzein have been identified as important biomolecules that can exert beneficial responses in the side effects of hormone decline, especially those related to estrogen depletion during menopause ( 19 ).…”

Aging in the sebaceous gland

“…Safety concerns have led to the application of HRT with bioidentical hormones at individualized doses tailored to each patient ( Rosenthal et al, 2019 ). Apart from bioidentical hormones, newly discovered phytoestrogens from fermented soybean extracts have been found to improve skin hydration and viscoelasticity in rats without systemic toxicities ( Rungseevijitprapa et al, 2021 ). However, it should be noted that HRT could increase the risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, so the doses should be tailored to each patient ( Rees, 2011 ).…”

Tea Tree Oil Nanoemulsion-Based Hydrogel Vehicle for Enhancing Topical Delivery of Neomycin

“…The strategy of applying drugs over the skin and providing their effectiveness directly to the target site is termed a topical drug delivery system [ 2 ]. Topical delivery is a more desirable and convenient strategy than other routes of administration owing to its great advantages [ 3 ], since it can overcome the first pass mechanism and the problems associated with swallowing [ 4 ]. Topical drug delivery systems can be used for treating a wide variety of disorders where they are available as analgesic [ 5 ], antifungal [ 6 ], anti-inflammatory [ 7 ], anticancer [ 8 ], antioxidant [ 9 ] and antibacterial formulations [ 10 ].…”