Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Supplementation with Standardized Terminalia chebula Fruit Extracts Reduces Facial Sebum Excretion, Erythema, and Wrinkle Severity

Abstract

Terminalia chebula (TC) is a medicinal plant that exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties and that is widely used in Ayurveda and herbal formulations. However, the skin effects of TC as an oral supplement have not been studied. The objective of this study is to determine if oral TC fruit extract supplementation can modulate the skin’s sebum production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. A prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted on healthy females aged 25–65. Subjects were supplemented with an oral placebo or Terminalia chebula (250 mg capsule, Synastol TC) capsules twice daily for eight weeks. A facial image collection and analysis system was used to assess the facial appearance of wrinkle severity. Standardized, non-invasive tools were used to measure facial moisture, sebum production, transepidermal water loss, melanin index and erythema index. For those who had a baseline sebum excretion rate >80 ug/cm2, TC supplementation produced a significant decrease in forehead sebum excretion rate compared to the placebo at four weeks (−17 decrease vs. 20% increase, p = 0.07) and at eight weeks (−33% decrease vs. 29% increase, p < 0.01). Cheek erythema decreased by 2.2% at eight weeks, while the placebo treatment increased cheek erythema by 1.5% (p < 0.05). Facial wrinkles decreased by 4.3% in the TC group and increased by 3.9% in the placebo group after eight weeks of supplementation (p < 0.05). TC supplementation reduces facial sebum and improves the appearance of wrinkles. Future studies should consider evaluating oral TC as adjuvant therapy for acne vulgaris.

Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Terminalia catappa (Indian Almond) on the Liver of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rat

“…They found that treatment with the aqueous extracts of Indian almonds exhibited antihepatotoxic activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity in the rat. Chakkalakal et al, [25] stated that the multiple antioxidant effects of the tannin components from Indian almonds have the capability to prevent lipid peroxidation (LPO), and formation of superoxide. Punicalin and punicalagin are the most copious phyto constituents and have the effective antioxidant activity of T. catappa.…”

Comparison of photodamage in non-pigmented and pigmented human skin equivalents exposed to repeated ultraviolet radiation to investigate the role of melanocytes in skin photoprotection

“…Individual typological angle (ITA) and melanin index (MI) measurements were obtained using a colourimeter, the SkinColorCatch (Delfin Technologies, Surrey, United Kingdom). The SkinColorCatch is a clinical instrument and colourimeter that is extensively used to determine facets of skin tone reliably in both in vitro (56) and in vivo settings (59)(60)(61)(62). The readings were repeated three times in different surface areas to get an average value of the parameter.…”