title: Effect of a sake concentrate on the epidermis of aged mice and confirmation of ethyl alpha-D-glucoside as its active component.
abstract: Generations of Japanese have appreciated the positive effects that sake can have on skin conditions, and studies have shown that concentrated sake suppressed the epidermal barrier disruption caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. We investigated the effect of a topical application of a sake concentrate on the murine epidermis and found that the intercellular lipid content in an aged epidermis was significantly increased. Furthermore, the topical application of ethyl alpha-D-glucoside (alpha-EG), a component of sake, brought about a similar improvement in the levels of intercellular lipids. Following on from this, we confirmed that alpha-EG also significantly increased the content of loricrin protein, an indicator of successful corneocyte differentiation, while reducing the number of corneocyte layers in the aged stratum corneum. These results confirmed alpha-EG as the primary active component of the sake concentrate that had a positive effect on the epidermis. alpha-EG increased the intercellular lipid content, accelerated the differentiation of corneocytes, and reduced the thickness, thus improving the functions of the stratum corneum.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005960:Glucosides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005960:Glucosides; D008055:Lipids; D012997:Solvents; D002784:Cholesterol; C108400:ethyl glucoside