The deleterious effects induced by an acute exposure of human skin to common air pollutants are prevented by extracts of Deschampsia antarctica

Abstract

The homeostatic and regenerative potential of the skin is critically impaired by an increasing accumulation of air pollutants in human ecosystems. These toxic compounds are frequently implicated in pathological processes such as premature cutaneous ageing, altered pigmentation and cancer. In this scenario, innovative strategies are required to tackle the effects of severe air pollution on skin function. Here we have used a Human Skin Organotypic Culture (HSOC) model to characterize the deleterious effects of an acute topic exposure of human skin to moderately high concentrations of common ambient pollutants, including As, Cd, Cr, dioxins and tobacco smoke. All these toxic compunds inflict severe damage in the tissue, activating the AHR-mediated response to xenobiotics. We have further evaluated the potential of an aqueous leaf extract of the polyextremophile plant Deschampsia antarctica (Edafence) to protect human skin against the acute exposure to toxic pollutants. Our results indicate that pre-treatment of HSOC samples with this aqueous extract conuterbalances the deleterious effects of the exposure to toxic comunds and triggers the activation of key genes invoved in the redox system and in the pro-inflammatory/wound healing response in the skin, suggesting that this natural compound might be effectively used in vivo to protect human skin routinely in different daily conditions.

Promoting New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for research on skin color changes in response to environmental stress factors: tobacco and air pollution

“…RelB gene was shown to mediate another non-canonical pathway by interaction with AhR and binding to an unrecognized genomic RelB/AhR responsive element (RelBAhRE) ( Vogel et al, 2007 ). As a result, production of inflammatory markers was shown to stimulate melanin production ( Khmaladze et al, 2020 ; Fernández-Martos et al, 2021 ; Nkengne et al, 2021 ; Moon et al, 2022 - detailed in Table 1 ), another cross talking point in the complex pathways network governing melanogenesis (see Section 3.6 ).…”

“…Natural extracts from plants such as Deschampsia Antarctica ( Milani et al, 2019 ; Fernández-Martos et al, 2021 ) and Korean Red Ginseng ( Moon et al, 2022 ) were evaluated for anti-pollution claims. In a clinical study, Deschampsi Antarctica reduced dark spots ( Milani et al, 2019 ); the study by Fernández-Martos et al, 2021 supported mechanistically the claims on this natural extract and identified the AhR and inflammatory pathways as those on which the extract is effective. Furthermore, the same study used an ex vivo human skin model that was pre-treated with Deschampsia Antarctica and then exposed to different pollutants.…”

“…Furthermore, the same study used an ex vivo human skin model that was pre-treated with Deschampsia Antarctica and then exposed to different pollutants. The pre-treatment prevented downregulation of E-cadherin receptors and overexpression of AhR which were shown to be in response to pollutants ( Fernández-Martos et al, 2021 ). Pre-treatment of human keratinocytes, co-culture of human keratinocytes and melanocytes and murine macrophages with Korean Red Ginseng mitigated the increase of melanin in response to PM10 treatment ( Moon et al, 2022 ).…”

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of A New Pigment Correction Cosmetic Protocol in Caucasian Women with Melasma

“…It is a plant capable of surviving in hostile environmental conditions, such as high radiation, high salinity, high oxygen concentration, low temperature, and extreme dryness, due to protection mechanisms against environmental aggression. Edafence® has been shown to reduce the effects of various pollutants on the skin and it strengthens the skin's barrier function, thus improving overall pigment control efficacy [31,32], as clinical studies have shown that environmental pollution can worsen pigmentation disorders such as melasma [33].…”

Polish Polar Research

“…Thus, for instance, it has been shown (Pereira et al 2009;Gidekel et al 2014;Perez-Davó et al 2019;Zamarrón et al 2019) that the compounds extracted from D. antarctica plants demonstrate antioxidant activity and may be used as photoprotective and antiaging agents. D. antarctica plant extract was found to protect human skin fibroblasts from the action of aggressive oxidants and environmental pollutants (Ortiz-Espіn et al 2017;Fernández-Martos et al 2021). The biological activity of extracts is associated, in particular, with the availability of substances with antioxidant properties, e.g., polyphenols.…”