[Efficacy study in vitro: assessment of the properties of resveratrol and resveratrol + N-acetyl-cysteine on proliferation and inhibition of collagen activity].
During and after menopause the skin shows up clearly how the lack of estrogen affects tissues, and menopause can in fact be considered a "multisystemic" disorder of connective tissue. The low menopausal estrogen levels combined with age-related skin changes, accelerating skin aging. This affects both the epidermis and the dermis: fibroblasts not only become fewer, but they produce 30% less collagen, reflecting its metabolic decline. Estrogens act on collagen synthesis by directly stimulating fibroblasts. However, hormone replacement can prevent the postmenopausal loss of collagen--or eliminate it once it has started. The results of the Women's Health Initiative study drastically changed Italian gynecologists' prescribing habits. Natural products with estrogen-like activity are increasingly accepted, since they have good effects on collagen synthesis and/or inhibit collagenase activity, with a reassuring safety profile. This was confirmed by an in vitro study that assessed the tonic-trophic properties of two treatments on cultured skin fibroblasts. Cells were treated with resveratrol either alone or combined with NAC 10-100-1000 μM. There was a dose-related increase in the rate of cell proliferation and in inhibition of collagenase activity.
Giardina
S
S
Farcoderm srl, San Martino Siccomario, Pavia, Italy.
Michelotti
A
A
Zavattini
G
G
Finzi
S
S
Ghisalberti
C
C
Marzatico
F
F
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D008593:Menopause; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol; D000111:Acetylcysteine