Wound-Healing and Skin-Moisturizing Effects of Sasa veitchii Extract

Abstract

Sasa veitchii (S. veitchii) is a traditional herb derived from the bamboo genus, which is collectively called Kumazasa. Although Kumazasa extract is believed to have various effects on the skin, there is little scientific evidence for these effects. In this study, we aimed to obtain scientific evidence regarding the wound-healing and skin-moisturizing effects of Kumazasa extract. Kumazasa extract was applied to the skin of a mouse wound model for 14 days, and the wound area and dermal water content were measured. Mice treated with Kumazasa extract had smaller wound areas than control mice. The dermal water content in the Kumazasa extract-treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of cutaneous aquaporin-3 (AQP3), which is involved in wound healing and increases in dermal water content, were significantly increased by treatment with Kumazasa extract. Kumazasa extract-treated HaCaT cells exhibited significantly higher AQP3 expression and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation than control cells. With continuous application, Kumazasa extract increases AQP3 expression and exerts wound-healing and moisturizing effects. The increase in AQP3 expression elicited by Kumazasa extract may be due to enhancement of transcription via activation of p38 MAPK signaling.

Expression analysis of genes important for maintaining skin function in a senescence‐accelerated mouse prone model

“…We have thus far found that various substances cause an increase in AQP3 in the skin and have mentioned their potential as cosmetic materials. [49][50][51][52] In the future, further development of skin aging research is expected by examining the usefulness of these materials using SAMP mice.…”

“…In this study, although we could not clarify the mechanism by which these genes decreased in the SAMP mice, the results suggested that SAMP mice could be a useful tool in skin aging research. We have thus far found that various substances cause an increase in AQP3 in the skin and have mentioned their potential as cosmetic materials 49–52 . In the future, further development of skin aging research is expected by examining the usefulness of these materials using SAMP mice.…”

Effect of the gut microbiota on the expression of genes that are important for maintaining skin function: Analysis using aged mice

“…Mouse skin was processed by a previously described method and used for Western blotting 18,19 . Proteins were separated using sodium dodecyl‐sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane.…”

“…Mouse skin was processed by a previously described method and used for Western blotting. 18,19 Proteins were separated using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. The proteins on the membrane were probed with primary (rabbit anti-rat AQP3 antibody, Alomone Labsmouse anti-rabbit glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate | 421 dehydrogenase (GAPDH) antibody, Chemicon International, Inc.) and secondary antibodies (donkey anti-rabbit IgG-HRP antibody, Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc; donkey anti-mouse IgG-HRP antibody, GE Healthcare).…”

A Review of Wound Healing Mechanisms of Natural Products in Keratinocyte Cells

“…It was also found that S. veitchii extract had a proliferative effect on HaCaT cells. 63 Periplaneta americana Periplaneta americana contains polyalcohols, amino acids, pyrimidines, uracils, and proteoglycans (Figure 30). P. americana extract showed effects in wound-healing that depend on the Janus-activated kinase/signal transducer pathway and transcriptional activator 3 (JAK/STAT3) and Smad3 activity.…”