title: Chyawanprash, a formulation of traditional Ayurvedic medicine, shows a protective effect on skin photoaging in hairless mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces skin photoaging (premature skin aging). UV irradiation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are shown to play a pivotal role in skin photoaging. Ayurveda is a holistic traditional medical system, and Chyawanprash is one of the most popular formulations in Ayurveda. Since maintenance of the function and appearance of skin is important, we examined whether Chyawanprash has a protective effect on skin photoaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  To examine the effect of Chyawanprash on skin photoaging, hairless mice were administered with Chyawanprash in drinking water for 3 weeks, and then repeatedly exposed to ultraviolet light B (UVB) irradiation (225 or 450 mJ/cm2) to induce skin photoaging. To further examine the function of Chyawanprash, its effects were examined in cells cultured in vitro. Chyawanprash was added in culture medium, and examined for the effect on the growth of human keratinocytes, and for the ability to eliminate ROS which generated by paraquat (50 μmol/L) in HeLa cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UVB irradiation caused symptoms such as rough skin, erythema, and edema on the skin in hairless mice, but administration of Chyawanprash relieved these symptoms. Further, Chyawanprash significantly suppressed epidermal thickening, a typical marker of skin photoaging, in mice. We then analyzed the effect of Chyawanprash in human cells in culture, and found that Chyawanprash enhanced the growth of human keratinocytes, and efficiently eliminated ROS, which are causally involved in skin photoaging, in HeLa cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that Chyawanprash may have beneficial effects on slowing skin photoaging.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takauji
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morino
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.|Ichiban Life Corporation, 1-1-7 Horai-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0048, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Primeasia University, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.|Ichiban Life Corporation, 1-1-7 Horai-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0048, Japan.
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayusawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.
authors.forename: Michihiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010269:Paraquat; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: C518324:Chyavanprash; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D010269:Paraquat