Oral Intake of Beet Extract Provides Protection Against Skin Barrier Impairment in Hairless Mice

Abstract

The epidermis acts as a functional barrier against the external environment. Disturbances in the function of this barrier cause water loss and increase the chances of penetration by various irritable stimuli, leading to skin diseases such as dry skin, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Ceramides are a critical natural element of the protective epidermal barrier. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the oral intake of beet (Beta vulgaris) extract, a natural product rich in glucosylceramide (GlcCer), may prevent disturbance in skin barrier function. When HR-1 hairless mice were fed a special diet (HR-AD), transepidermal water loss (TEWL) from the dorsal skin increased, with a compensatory increase in water intake after 5 weeks. Mice fed with HR-AD had dry skin with erythema and showed increased scratching behaviour. Histological examinations revealed a remarkable increase in the thickness of the skin at 8 weeks. Supplemental addition of beet extract, which contained GlcCer at a final concentration of 0.1%, significantly prevented an increase TEWL, water intake, cumulative scratching time, and epidermal thickness at 8 weeks. These results indicate that oral intake of beet extract shows potential for preventing skin diseases associated with impaired skin barrier function.

Recovery Effects of Oral Administration of Glucosylceramide and Beet Extract on Skin Barrier Destruction by UVB in Hairless Mice

“…The number of ceramides in skin is decreased in patients with atopic dermatitis and senile xerosis, and increasing the number of ceramides is important to maintaining healthy skin [ 2 , 3 ]. Oral administration of plant extracts from maize [ 4 ], rice [ 4 ], konjac [ 5 ] and sugar beet [ 6 ] that contain glucosylceramide (GlcCer), a ceramide precursor, or purified GlcCer has recently been reported to be effective in improving skin barrier function not only in a hairless mouse model [ 5 , 7 , 8 ], but also in humans [ 5 , 9 ].…”

Potential Applications of Phyto-Derived Ceramides in Improving Epidermal Barrier Function

“…In addition to in vitro studies, the beneficial effects of oral intake of plant-derived CERs for skin hydration and skin barrier reinforcement have been established in several studies involving animal models [14,15,110,111] as well as human subjects [14,106,109,112]. These studies were mostly conducted on detergent- or tape-stripped-perturbed human skin and/or hairless mouse skin [14,113] or on skin with diet-induced AD-like symptoms in animal models [114,115].…”

“…Recently, the protective effect of orally administered beet (Beta vulgaris) GlcCERs against diet-induced (HR-AD) skin barrier impairment (increased TEWL and scratching behaviour, dry skin with erythema) in hairless mice was investigated [111]. The dietary supplement prevented the increase in TEWL and cumulative scratching time in mice fed with the special diet.…”

Effects of Orally Administered Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Dry Skin Conditions in Mice and Healthy Female Subjects

“…HOS-HR-1 mice are generally used as an atopic dermatitis model that is induced by a low-magnesium diet (8). Since this model exhibits a severe dry skin condition with a marked increase in TEWL, it is widely used to evaluate the skin barrier function of those natural products expected to show a skinmoisturizing effect such as beet extract, which contains ceramide glucosides, or acacia extract, which contains polyphenols (14,15). In atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, the skin barrier function is decreased, and T-cells play a major role in the development of dermatitis, which is associated with an increase in dermal mast cell number (16)(17)(18).…”