Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Biological activities of dermatological interest by the water extract of the microalga Botryococcus braunii

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Dermatological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of microalgae in the skin care market is already established although the scientific rationale for their benefit was not clearly defined. In this work, the biological activities of dermatologic interest of the water extract from the microalga Botryococcus braunii (BBWE) were evaluated by a battery of in vitro assays. At concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.001 % (w/v) BBWE promoted adipocytes differentiation by inhibiting hormone-sensitive lipase, thus promoting triglyceride accumulation in the cells. BBWE also induced gene expression of proteins involved in the maintenance of skin cells water balance such as aquaporin-3 (AQP3), filaggrin (FLG) and involucrin (INV). 0.1 % BBWE increased the gene expression of AQP3 of 2.6-folds, that of FLG and INV of 1.5- and 1.9-folds, respectively. Moreover, it induced the biosynthesis of collagen I and collagen III by 80 and 40 %, respectively, compared to the untreated control. BBWE antioxidant activity, evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, was of 43.5 μmol Trolox per gram of extract: a quite high value among those found for other microalgae extracts. BBWE inhibited the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and the consequent nitrite oxide (NO) production under oxidative stress. At a concentration of 0.02 % BBWE reduced by 50 % the expression of iNOS and by about 75 % the NO production. Taken together, the results demonstrated that B. braunii water extract exerted an array of biological activities concurring with the skin health maintenance; therefore, it is a potential bioactive ingredient to be included in cosmetic products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bäckesjö CM, Li Y, Lindgren U, Haldosén LA (2006) Activation of Sirt1 decreases adipocyte formation during osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. J Bone Miner Res 21(7):993–1002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bai L, Pang WJ, Yang YJ, Yang GS (2008) Modulation of Sirt1 by resveratrol and nicotinamide alters proliferation and differentiation of pig preadipocytes. Mol Cell Biochem 307:129–140

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Baksh D, Song L, Tuan RS (2004) Adult mesenchymal stem cells: characterization, differentiation, and application in cell and gene therapy. J Cell Mol Med 8:301–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Banerjee A, Sharma R, Chisti Y, Banerjee UC (2002) Botryococcus braunii: a renewable source of hydrocarbons and other chemicals. Crit Rev Biotechnol 22(3):245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Belfrage P, Fredrikson G, Strålfors P, Tornquist H (1984) Adipose tissue lipases. In: Borgström B, Brockman HL (eds) Lipases. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 365–416

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chkhikvishvili ID, Ramazanov ZM (2000) Phenolic substances of brown algae and their antioxidant activity. Appl Biochem Microbiol 36:289–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dale BA, Holbrook KA, Steinert PM (1978) Assembly of stratum corneum basic protein and keratin filaments in macrofibrils. Nature 276:729–731

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Duan XJ, Zhang WW, Li XM, Wang BG (2006) Evaluation of antioxidant property of extract and fractions obtained from a red alga, Polysiphonia urceolata. Food Chem 95:37–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Dulbecco R, Freeman G (1959) Plaque production by the Polyoma virus. Virology 8:396–397

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Eckert RL, Welter JF (1996) Transcription factor regulation of epidermal keratinocyte gene expression. Mol Biol Rep 23:59–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Eckert RL, Yaffe MB, Crish JF, Murthy S, Rorke EA, Welter JF (1993) Involucrin—structure and role in envelope assembly. J Invest Dermatol 100:613–617

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gouveia L, Raymundo A, Batista AP, Sousa I, Empis J (2006) Chlorella vulgaris and Haematococcus pluviales biomass as colouring and antioxidant in food emulsions. Eur Food Res Technol 222:362–367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hara M, Ma T, Verkman AS (2002) Selectively reduced glycerol in skin of aquaporin-3-deficient mice may account for impaired skin hydration, elasticity, and barrier recovery. J Biol Chem 227:46616–46621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hara-Chikuma M, Verkman AS (2008) Roles of aquaporin-3 in the epidermis. J Invest Dermatol 128:2145–2151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Harding CR, Scott IR (2002) Stratum corneum moisturizing factors. In: Leyden J, Rawlings A (eds) Skin moisturization. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 61–80

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harding CR, Scott IR (1983) Histidine-rich proteins (filaggrins). Structural and functional heterogeneity during epidermal differentiation. J Mol Biol 170:651–673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Herrero M, Cifuentes A, Ibanez E (2006) Sub- and supercritical fluid extraction of functional ingredients from different natural sources: plants, food-by-products, algae and microalgae. A review. Food Chem 98:136–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Herrero M, Martin-Alvarez PJ, Senorans FJ, Cifuentes A, Ibanez E (2005) Optimization of accelerated solvent extraction of antioxidants from Spirulina platensis microalga. Food Chem 93:417–423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Holm C (2003) Molecular mechanisms regulating hormone-sensitive lipase and lipolysis. Biochem Soc Trans 31(6):1120–1124

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hsu S, Dickinson D, Borke J (2007) Green tea polyphenol induces caspase 14 in epidermal keratinocytes via MAPK pathways and reduces psoriasiform lesions in the flaky skin mouse model. Exp Dermatol 16:678–684

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Huang D, Ou B, Woodill MH, Flanagan JA, Prior RL (2002) High-throughput assay of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) using a multichannel liquid handling system coupled with a microplate fluorescence reader in 96-well format. J Agric Food Chem 50:4437–4444

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Huang HL, Wang BG (2004) Antioxidant capacity and lipophilic content of seaweeds collected from the Qingdao coastline. J Agric Food Chem 52:4993–4997

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ishida-Yamamoto A, Iizuka H (1998) Structural organization of cornified cell envelopes and alterations in inherited skin disorders. Exp Dermatol 7:1–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kam E, Resing KA, Lim S, Dale BA (1993) Identification of rat epidermal profilaggrin phosphatase as a member of the protein phosphatase 2A family. J Cell Sci 106:219–226

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Karsenty G, Park RW (1995) Regulation of type I collagen genes expression. Int Rev Immunol 12:177–185

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Koch PJ, Viragh PA, Scharer E, Bundman D, Longley MA, Bickenbach J, Kawachi Y, Suga Y, Zhou Z, Huber M, Hohl D, Kartasova T, Jarnik M, Steven AC, Roop DR (2000) Lessons from loricrin-deficient mice: compensatory mechanisms maintaining skin barrier function in the absence of a major cornified envelope protein. J Cell Biol 151:389–400

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kolios G, Valatas V, Ward SG (2004) Nitric oxide in inflammatory bowel disease: a universal messenger in an unsolved puzzle. Immunol 113:427–437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kramer U, Schikowski T (2006) Recent demographic changes and consequences in dermatology. In: Gilchrest BA, Krutmann J (eds) Skin ageing. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–8

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  29. Krutmann J (2001) New developments in photoprotection of human skin. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 14:401–407

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kuda T, Tsunekawa M, Hishi T, Araki Y (2005) Antioxidant properties of dried ‘kayamo-nori, a brown alga Scytosiphon lomentaria (Scytosiphonales, Phaeophyceae). Food Chem 89:617–622

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Langin’ D, Holm C, Lafontan M (1996) Adipocyte hormone-sensitive lipase: a major regulator of lipid metabolism. Proc Nutr Soc 55:93–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Li HB, Cheng KW, Wong CC, Fan KW, Chen F, Jiang Y (2007) Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of different fractions of selected microalgae. Food Chem 102:771–776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Li HB, Chen F, Zhang TY, Yang FQ, Xu GQ (2001) Preparative isolation and purification of lutein from the microalga Chlorella vulgaris by high-speed counter-current chromatography. J of Chromatogr A 905:151–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Lim SW, Hong SP, Jeong SW, Kim B, Bak H, Ryoo HC, Lee SH, Ahn SK (2007) Simultaneous effect of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid on epidermal permeability barrier function and epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha. J Dermatol 34:625–634

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lowenstein CJ, Alley EW, Raval P, Snowman AM, Snyder SH, Russell SW, Murphy WJ (1993) Macrophage nitric oxide synthase gene: two upstream regions mediate induction by interferon and lipopolysaccharide. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90(2):9730–9734

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Marionnet C, Vioux-Chagnoleau C, Pierrard C, Sok J, Asselineau D, Bernerd F (2006) Morphogenesis of dermal-epidermal junction in a model of reconstructed skin: beneficial effects of vitamin C. Exp Dermatol 15:625–633

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Marks R (2004) The stratum corneum barrier: the final frontier. J Nutr 134:2017S–2021S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Monzon RI, LaPres JJ, Hudson LG (1996) Regulation of involucrin gene expression by retinoic acid and glucocorticoids. Cell Growth Differ 7:1751–1759

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Morimoto C, Kameda K, Tsujita T, Okuda H (2001) Relationships between lipolysis induced by various lipolytic agents and hormone-sensitive lipase in rat fat cells. J Lipid Res 42:120–127

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Murthy KNC, Vanitha A, Rajesha J, Swamy MM, Sowmya PR, Ravishankar GA (2005) In vivo antioxidant activity of carotenoids from Dunaliella salina—a green microalga. Life Sci 76:1381–1390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Pereda MCV, Dieamant GC, Eberlin S, Werka RM, Colombi D, Queroz MLS, Di Stasi LC (2010) Expression of differential genes involved in the maintenance of water balance in human skin by Piptadenia colubrina extract. J Cosmet Dermatol 9:35–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Picard F, Kurtev M, Chung N, Topark-Ngarm A, Senawong T, Machado De Oliveira R, Leid M, McBurney MW, Guarente L (2004) Sirt1 promotes fat mobilization in white adipocytes by repressing PPAR-gamma. Nat 429:771–776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Plaza M, Cifuentes A, Ibanez E (2008) In the search of new functional food ingredients from algae. Trend Food Sci Technol 19:31–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Plaza M, Santoyo S, Jaime L, Garcia-Blairsy Reina G, Herrero M, Senoransb FJ, Ibaneza E (2010) Screening for bioactive compounds from algae. J Pharm Biomed Anal 51:450–455

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Porcu M, Chiarugi A (2005) The emerging therapeutic potential of sirtuin-interacting drugs: from cell death to lifespan extension. Trends Pharmacol Sci 26:94–103

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Quan T, Qin Z, Shao Y, Xu Y, Voorhees JJ, Fisher GJ (2011) Retinoids suppress cysteine-rich protein 61 (CCN1), a negative regulator of collagen homeostasis, in skin equivalent cultures and aged human skin in vivo. Exp Dermatol 20:572–576

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Resing KA, Walsh KA, Haugen-Scofield J, Dale BA (1989) Identification of proteolytic cleavage sites in the conversion of profilaggrin to filaggrin in mammalian epidermis. J Biol Chem 264:1837–1845

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Sauve AA, Moir RD, Schramm VL, Willis IM (2005) Chemical activation of Sir2-dependent silencing by relief of nicotinamide inhibition. Mol Cell 17:595–601

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Senousy HH, Beakes GW, Hack E (2004) Phylogenetic placement of Botryococcus braunii (Trebouxiophyceae) and Botryococcus sudeticus isolate UTEX 2629 (Chlorophyceae). J Phycol 40:412–423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Sougrat R, Morand M, Gondran C, Barre P, Gobin R, Bonte F, Dumas M, Verbanaz JM (2002) Functional expression of AQP3 in human skin epidermis and reconstructed epidermis. J Invest Dermatol 118:678–685

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Steinert PM, Marekov LN (1997) Direct evidence that involucrin is a major early isopeptide crosslinked component of the keratinocyte cornified cell envelope. J Biol Chem 272:2021–2030

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Stolz P, Obermayer B (2005) Manufacturing microalgae for skin care. Cosmet Toilet 120:99–106

    Google Scholar 

  53. Talvvar SH, Christopher EM, Fisher GJ, Hamilton TA, Voorhees JJ (1995) Reduced type I and type III procollagens in photodamaged adult human skin. J Invest Dermatol 105:285–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Tannin-Spitz T, Bergman M, Van-Moppes D, Grossman S, Arad S (2005) Antioxidant activity of the polysaccharide of the red microalga Porphyridium sp. J Appl Phycol 17:215–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Tito A, Carola A, Bimonte M, Barbulova A, Arciello S, De Laurentiis F, Monoli I, Hill J, Gibertoni S, Colucci G, Apone F (2011) A tomato stem cell extract, containing antioxidant compounds and metal chelating factors, protects skin cells from heavy metal-induced damages. Int J Cosmet Sci 33:543–552

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Verkman AS (2008) A cautionary note on cosmetics containing ingredients that increase aquaporin-3 expression. Exp Dermatol 17:871–872

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Vermeer BJ, Gilchrest BA (1996) Cosmeceuticals. A proposal for rational definition, evaluation, and regulation. Arch Dermatol 132:337–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Voss KE, Bollag RJ, Fussell N, By C, Sheehan DJ, Bollag WB (2011) Abnormal aquaporin-3 protein expression in hyperproliferative skin disorders. Arch Dermatol Res 303:591–600

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Watson AL, Fray TR, Bailey J, Baker CB, Beyer SA, Markwell PJ (2006) Dietary constituents are able to play a beneficial role in canine epidermal barrier function. Exp Dermatol 15:74–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Xie QW, Whisnant R, Nathan C (1993) Promoter of the mouse gene encoding calcium-independent nitric oxide synthase confers inducibility by interferon and bacterial lipopolysaccharide. J Expl Med 177(6):1779–1784

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Yasui H, Kubota M, Iguchi K, Usui S, Kiho T, Hirano K (2008) Membrane trafficking of aquaporin 3 induced by epinephrine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 373:613–617

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Yarosh DB, Galvin JW, Nay SL, Penã AV, Canning MT, Brown DA (2006) Anti-inflammatory activity in skin by biomimetic of Evodia rutaecarpa extract from traditional Chinese medicine. J Dermatol Sci 42:13–21

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Zhang QB, Yu PZ, Li Z, Zhang H, Xu ZH, Li PC (2003) Antioxidant activities of sulfate polysaccharide fractions from Porphyra haitanensis. J Appl Phycol 15:305–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out in the framework of the project “Phytocosmetics: cosmetic formulations based on water-soluble extracts from microalgae with replenishing action on skin tissue” funded by Institute of Foreign Commerce (ICE) and Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Naples Federico II, CRIAcq, Parco Gussone Ed 77, 80055, Portici, Italy

    Silvia Buono, Antonio Luca Langellotti, Anna Martello & Vincenzo Fogliano

  2. Arterra Bioscience S.r.l., Naples, Italy

    Marida Bimonte, Annalisa Tito, Antonietta Carola, Fabio Apone & Gabriella Colucci

  3. Vitalab S.r.l., Naples, Italy

    Fabio Apone & Gabriella Colucci

Authors
  1. Silvia Buono
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Antonio Luca Langellotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna Martello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marida Bimonte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Annalisa Tito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Antonietta Carola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fabio Apone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Gabriella Colucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Vincenzo Fogliano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincenzo Fogliano.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Buono, S., Langellotti, A.L., Martello, A. et al. Biological activities of dermatological interest by the water extract of the microalga Botryococcus braunii . Arch Dermatol Res 304, 755–764 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-012-1250-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-012-1250-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation