Protective Effect Of Salecan On Skin

The skin, as the largest organ in body, is the first line of defense against external factors and has many important functions. Influenced by itself and the environment together, the skin gradually appears dry, yellow, flabby, dull, wrinkles and so on. β-(1.3)-glucan as a biological macromolecule, have some biological activities such as high viscosity, moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, anti-aging and acceleration of wound healing, and are used in cosmetics. Since β-(1,3)-glucan is hard to extract and purify, which makes it expensive, it’s difficult to be widely used. Therefore, it would be important to investigate water-soluble extracellular β-(1,3)-glucan---Salecan on moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, anti-UV irradiation and wound healing of, and to utilize in cosmetics and wound healing.The moisture-absorbent of Salecan were13.23%and20.07%at43%and81%relative humidity; the moisture-retention of Salecan was23.93%at43%relative humidity, and15.10%in a desiccation chamber containing dried silica gel after12hours. The increased moisturization was82.05%compared with the skin before treatment in human skin moisturizer test, and decreased to43.58%after8hours. Salecan enhanced expression of Collαl and Co13α1genes in fibroblasts experiment.Salecan significantly improved cell viability, which the fibroblasts cells were treated3hours before or after UVA irradiation, the cell viability were100.94%and97.88%, compared with the irradiation group (67.93%). Salecan decreased the expression of cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6. and improved the gene expression of Collα1and Co13α1after ultraviolet irradiation treatment in mice. Salecan attenuated the damaging effects of collagen fibers, and maintained the normal morphology of the skin after UV irradiation in tissue biopsy. Salecan effectively scavenged superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals and DPPH radicals in vitro, its scavenging rate were17.53%,60.33%and43.82%respectively.Salecan accelerated wound healing in the full-thickness wounds of mouse, the wound closure was5.38%on12days, while the control group was24.76%;the gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, were enhanced in the early wound healing and the time of its high expression was shortened, reduced the adverse effects. Salecan promoted the proliferation of fibroblasts; the cell viability was124.95%, compared with the control group after Salecan (500ug/ml) treatment.All results from this study indicate that Salecan have a series of activities, such as good moisture-absorption and moisture-retention properties, improving skin moisture, potentially anti-wrinkle effect, reducing the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin, effectively eliminating free radicals, and accelerating wound healing. So it can be used in cosmetics and the field of drugs for wound healing.