title: Effect of pre-treatment of almond oil on ultraviolet B-induced cutaneous photoaging in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been implicated in photoaging and various types of skin carcinomas. Although the human skin has evolved several defense mechanisms to survive the insults of actinic damage like keratinization, melanin pigmentation, etc., it is still subjected to the harmful effects of sunlight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the role of almond oil in reducing the degradative changes induced in skin upon exposure to UV radiation was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were divided in four groups of 20 animals. Group I was the control group. Group II was negative control, which received almond oil treatment alone. Group III was exposed to UV radiation only and Group IV received both UV treatment and almond oil treatment. Visible skin grading assessed the changes based on a rating scale, biochemical tests (glutathione estimation and lipid peroxidation), and histopathologic studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon exposure of mice to UV radiation, it was found that pronounced visible skin changes were seen after 12 weeks of exposure. The results of the biochemical tests, glutathione estimation, and lipid peroxidation showed that almond oil reduced the effect of UV light-induced photoaging on the skin. Histopathologic studies also indicated a photoprotective effect of almond oil on the skin after UV exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that topical almond oil is capable of preventing the structural damage caused by UV irradiation and it was also found useful in decelerating the photoaging process.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmaceutics, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India. yas2312003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: Kanchan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Athar
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Khar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aqil
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; C068582:almond oil