TOCOPHEROL

Skin aging has many manifestations such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dryness. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, especially ultraviolet light-induced oxidative radicals, contribute to the etiology of aging. Human skin requires both water- and lipid-soluble nutrient components, including hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. Vitamins C and E have important protective effects in the aging process and require exogenous supply. Raspberry leaf extracts contain botanical actives that have the potential to hydrating and moisturizing skin. Topical products with these ingredients may therefore combine to provide improved anti-aging effects over single ingredients. To evaluate the anti-aging and brightening effects of an encapsulated serum containing vitamin C (20% w/w), vitamin E, and European raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaf cell culture extract. Fifty female volunteers aged 30-65 years were allocated one capsule of serum for topical application on one side of the face for 2 months, in addition to self-use of facial skin products. Both test (treated) and contralateral (untreated) sides were dermatologically assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. Skin color (melanin index), elasticity, radiance, moisture, and water evaporation were measured by Mexameter MX18 ® , Cutometer ® , Glossymeter GL200 ® , Corneometer CM825 ® , and Tewameter TM300 ® instruments, respectively (Courage + Khazaka Electronic GmbH). Skin microtopography parameters, smoothness (SEsm), roughness (SEr), scaliness (SEsc), and wrinkles (SEw), were measured by Visioscan ® VC98 USB (Courage + Khazaka Electronic GmbH), and gross lifting effects were measured by VECTRA ® H1 (Canfield Scientific), and adverse reactions and satisfaction were also assessed. Skin color, elasticity, and radiance were significantly improved. The smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles were also revealed significant improvement. Mild adverse reactions were tingling and tightness. The vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract serum has anti-aging and brightening effects of skin.

Nutrition is essential for skin care, whether for rejuvenation, recovery, or regeneration after trauma or surgery; yet it is often overlooked. Although many nutrients have well-demonstrated benefits, others, such as vitamin E, a liposoluble antioxidant used for more than 50 years in dermatology, lack research and proof of their photoprotective and anti-tumorigenic properties. "Vitamin E" is the collective term for tocopherols and tocotrienols, with the main differences being their aliphatic tails and tocotrienols' higher antioxidant effect compared with tocopherols due to their unsaturated, isoprenoid side chains. Given the ongoing exposure of individuals to physical, biological, chemical, and psychological stressors throughout their lives, recent studies have shown that vitamin E provides stress protection or resistance, normalizes cellular homeostasis, and increases resistance to toxic stimuli that cause cellular damage. We discuss the relationship between oral and topical vitamin E and its improvement in many dermatologic and systemic conditions.

Vitamin E is a powerful lipophilic antioxidant that protects membranes from lipid peroxidation, and consequently, oxidative damage. Oxidative stress plays a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Vitamin E supplementation is recommended in patients with vitamin E deficiency due to fat malabsorption. The addition of vitamin E to the diet slows Alzheimer's disease progression and protects older patients against respiratory infections. Recent studies also point to the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathology of immune-mediated skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. We reviewed the available clinical trials that investigated the role of vitamin E supplementation in preventing and treating atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Data from these studies point to a positive role of vitamin E supplementation in these diseases. Still, due to limitations in study design, further evidence is needed to reach a definite conclusion.

Mast cells play an important role in the immune system by interacting with B and T cells and by releasing several mediators involved in activating other cells. Hyperreactivity of mast cells and their uncontrolled accumulation in tissues lead to increased release of inflammatory mediators contributing to the pathogenesis of several diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and allergic disorders such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Interference with mast cell proliferation, survival, degranulation, and migration by synthetic or natural compounds may represent a preventive strategy for the management of these diseases. Natural vitamin E covers a group of eight analogues-the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherols and the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols, but only alpha-tocopherol is efficiently retained by the liver and distributed to peripheral tissues. Mast cells preferentially locate in the proximity of tissues that interface with the external environment (the epithelial surface of the skin, the gastrointestinal mucosa, and the respiratory system), what may render them accessible to treatments with inefficiently retained natural vitamin E analogues and synthetic derivatives. In addition to scavenging free radicals, the natural vitamin E analogues differently modulate signal transduction and gene expression in several cell lines; in mast cells, protein kinase C, protein phosphatase 2A, and protein kinase B are affected by vitamin E, leading to the modulation of proliferation, apoptosis, secretion, and migration. In this chapter, the possibility that vitamin E can prevent diseases with mast cells involvement by modulating signal transduction and gene expression is evaluated.

Reports of vitamin E-induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and frequent use of vitamin-E derivatives (tocopherol, tocopheryl linoleate, tocopherol acetate, etc) in skin care products deserves further investigation into tolerability and suitability of vitamin E in skin care preparations. A PubMed search was conducted to review the prevalence of vitamin E-induced ACD. It revealed 931 cases of vitamin E-induced ACD mainly from one large study. There were no reported deaths and only three patients required hospitalization for treatment. It appears that vitamin E-induced ACD is an uncommon phenomenon; incidence is low despite its widespread use in skin care products. Given its antioxidant and photoprotective properties, vitamin E should remain an ingredient in skin care products.

Vitamin E belongs to the family of lipid-soluble vitamins and can be divided into two groups, tocopherols and tocotrienols, with four isomers (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). Although vitamin E is widely known as a potent antioxidant, studies have also revealed that vitamin E possesses anti-inflammatory properties. These crucial properties of vitamin E are beneficial in various aspects of health, especially in neuroprotection and cardiovascular, skin and bone health. However, the poor bioavailability of vitamin E, especially tocotrienols, remains a great limitation for clinical applications. Recently, nanoformulations that include nanovesicles, solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles have shown promising outcomes in improving the efficacy and bioavailability of vitamin E. This review focuses on the pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics of vitamin E and current advances in vitamin E nanoformulations for future clinical applications. The limitations and future recommendations are also discussed in this review.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that currently lacks safe and effective transdermal therapies capable of multi-target action. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) were separately conjugated to D-alpha tocopherol acid polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), which subsequently self-assembled into nanoparticles (HA/GA-NPs). Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and HA were employed as the microneedle matrix to fabricate soluble microneedles incorporating the nanoparticles (HA/GA-NPs-MNs). This strategy combined the CD44-targeting capability and anti-inflammatory activity of the nanoparticles with the immunomodulatory function and efficient penetration-enhancing ability of the BSP-based microneedles, thereby achieving synergistic therapeutic effects against psoriasis. In vitro studies demonstrated that the CD44-targeting capability of HA/GA-NPs enhanced cellular uptake, reduced intracellular ROS expression, and suppressed the inflammatory proliferation of HaCaT cells. Concurrently, BSP and HA/GA-NPs synergistically promote M2 polarization in RAW264.7 cells while suppressing the production of NO and proinflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Furthermore, HA/GA-NPs-MNs enhanced drug accumulation and skin penetration, enabling efficient delivery into the deeper skin layers. During in vivo studies, the system was observed to significantly enhance immune regulation and demonstrated the strongest efficacy in suppressing psoriatic inflammatory infiltration. The primary therapeutic mechanism of HA/GA-NPs-MNs against psoriasis involved the blockade of STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit IL-23 signaling and downstream IL-17 release. The biosafety assessment confirmed high dermal and hemocompatibility of the system. This work presented a novel integrated platform of multifunctional self-assembled nanoparticles and immunomodulatory microneedles for the topical treatment of psoriasis.

Effective skin moisturization is essential for combating age-related skin deterioration and maintaining overall skin health. This study investigates the development and characterization of DL-α-tocopherol-loaded sodium alginate (SA)-based hydrogel microneedles (MNs) using a polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) crosslinking strategy for sustained, non-invasive antioxidant delivery and enhanced skin hydration. Three hydrogel formulations, SAP1, SAP2 and SAP3, were prepared with varying PEGDE to SA molar ratios, resulting in distinct swelling behaviors and crosslinking densities. SAP1 exhibited the highest swelling ratio, while SAP3 showed the lowest, which influenced the drug release profiles. SAP1α provided the fastest drug release, while SAP3α demonstrated a slowest release. SAP2α was selected for in vivo evaluation based on their balanced DL-α-tocopherol release along with favorable mechanical strength and swelling properties. SAP2α MNs significantly increased skin moisture from 13% to 37% within 8 days, outperforming the control and blank groups. These results show the potential of SA-based hydrogel MNs for transdermal drug delivery for skin rejuvenation and anti-aging. The moisturizing effectiveness of SAP2α MNs suggests their strong clinical potential in dermatology and cosmetic treatments for combating skin aging and dryness.

One of the world's most important scientific challenges is addressing the global food crisis. Products offering potential health benefits, including various supplements with protective properties, have become a priority. Vitamin E is among the compounds gaining increasing attention from consumers. It is a group of compounds, with α-tocopherol of natural origin being the most bioavailable and valuable. This study investigated variations in α-tocopherol content, productivity, and antioxidant status at different growth stages in 15 microalgae strains from the Chlorophyta and Heterokontophyta. Results showed considerable diversity in α-tocopherol content, ranging from 8.0 to 773.8 µg g -1 dry weight, with a maximum for the Heterochlamydomonas strain at the late stationary phase. Significant intra‑species variability was observed, underscoring the importance of strain selection for biotechnological applications. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns, distinguishing strains with high α-tocopherol content and antioxidant enzyme activity from those with lower levels. This underscored the intricate interplay between phylogeny, growth conditions, and antioxidant defences in microalgae. The obtained results provided opportunities for screening microalgae to obtain biomass with a high content of natural α-tocopherol, and opened new avenues for their utilisation in food supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Oxidative stress induced by excessive hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a critical pathological factor in skin aging, inflammatory disorders, and photodamage. While tocopherol (TCP) is a gold-standard antioxidant in cosmetics, its potential in H 2 O 2 -responsive systems remains underexplored. In this study, we report the design and characterization of ditocopheryl peroxalate (TOT), a novel tocopherol dimer linked via a H 2 O 2 -cleavable peroxalate linkage. TOT remains chemically stable under physiological conditions but undergoes selective chemiluminescence-like degradation upon exposure to H 2 O 2 , simultaneously scavenging H 2 O 2 and liberating two TCP molecules. Notably, TOT demonstrated superior H 2 O 2 -scavenging efficiency and enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in H 2 O 2 -stimulated cells compared to monomeric TCP, while maintaining excellent biocompatibility. Structural analysis revealed that the rigid, linear configuration of TOT facilitates seamless integration into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers, yielding highly stable H 2 O 2 -responsive liposomes. These findings highlight TOT as a sophisticated multifunctional antioxidant platform for advanced cosmeceutical applications targeting photo-induced oxidative damage.

Alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) is a fat-soluble antioxidant with neuroprotective properties. There is a gap in research regarding the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-tocopherol in different tests of nociception as well as its signaling pathways. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-tocopherol in vivo and examine the potential involvement of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and downstream kinase pathways, particularly protein kinases protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC). Male Swiss albino mice were used in acetic acid-induced writhing, immersion tail-flick, and hot-plate tests for nociception while male Wistar rats were used in carrageenan-induced paw edema assay for inflammation. Alpha-tocopherol (50 mg/kg, i.p.), alone or in combination with TRPV1 antagonist (capsazepine) or PKC/PKA inhibitors (Go 6976, H89, respectively) was administered, followed by conducting the behavioral tests. TRPV1 expression in brain and skin tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry. Alpha-tocopherol significantly reduced writhing responses and extended heat latency in thermal tests. The TRPV1 was involved in the hot-plate and immersion tail-flick assays, while PKC and PKA pathways were implicated in the supraspinal analgesic effect (the hot plate test). Alpha-tocopherol (20 μg) did not exert any significant anti-inflammatory effect in the carrageenan model. Intense TRPV1 immunolabeling was observed in the alpha-tocopherol/ carrageenan condition, particularly in the skin. Alpha-tocopherol possesses a strong anti-nociceptive effect through TRPV1 modulation via PKC/PKA-dependent mechanisms. These findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol can be used as an adjuvant in multimodal pain management protocols.

Cottonseed oil (CSO) is regarded as a nutritionally balanced oil, and is routinely used for food and cosmetics products. Autooxidation degrades oil storage quality and shortens the shelf life of oil products. In this research, crude CSO (c-CSO) from recently developed glandless cotton and commercially available refined CSO (r-CSO) from conventional glanded cotton were subjected to accelerated oxidation under storage at 60 °C in a convection oven for 45 days. Selective parameters (e.g., acid, peroxide, and anisidine values) and spectroscopic features (ultraviolet-visible absorptivity and Fourier transform infrared band intensity) were used to monitor the changes in the storage quality behaviors during the storage. The resulting data indicated that the specific values and the change trends of these parameters were not exactly the same between c-CSO and r-CSO. Generally, the c-CSO sample tended to show lower autooxidation degrees than r-CSO during storage. The content of tocopherol (a specific fat-soluble type of antioxidant compounds with a methylated phenolic ring) was 1016 and 23 mg kg - 1 , in the two oil samples, respectively. The decreasing trend of tocopherol content in c-CSO samples implied that the tocopherols played roles in slowing down c-CSO's autoxidation process, thus increasing its shelf life. Information derived from this work would be helpful in the application of the new c-CSO as an effective antioxidant component in addition to conventional CSO's nutrient values.

Algae have shown an effective defense system that enables their survival in environments exposed to radiation stress, especially from ultraviolet (UV) light and ionizing radiation. Their protective system comprises specific photoprotective chemicals along with a multilayered antioxidant strategy that encompasses both non-enzymatic and enzymatic approaches. In this defence system, scytonemin and mycosporin-like amino acids play a crucial role in photoprotection by functioning as natural sunscreen with high photostability and strong UV-absorbing capacity. These chemical compounds also possess antioxidant properties that help minimize indirect damage produced by reactive oxygen species formed after radiation exposure. Scytonemin becomes significant due to its capability to block 90% of UV-radiation, effectively absorbing all types of UV (A, B and C) wavelengths. In the process of quenching photosensitization products and scavenging free radicals, carotenoids act as a stress reliever by preventing oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation. The internally generated ROS gets neutralized by algae, which utilize an enzymatic antioxidant system. In the enzymatic defence system of algae, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase play important roles in ROS elimination. Additionally, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid which are non-enzymatic antioxidants, complement the enzymatic reaction described above. The biochemical properties of these photoprotective and antioxidant compounds have significant biotechnological implications, applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, anticancer treatments, nutraceuticals and antimicrobials. Interestingly, exposure to low-dose radiation has been shown to enhance algae growth, stimulate the production of valuable metabolites for biofuels and biomaterials and strengthen the resilience of cultivated strains against stressors.

This paper examines the nutritional and metabolic characteristics of Carthamus tinctorius seed oils produced in two regions across Morocco and assesses how various extraction methods, Soxhlet, cold pressing, and maceration, affect oil yield and the presence of bioactive compounds, which establishes the data on Moroccan cultivars that have limited information. Soxhlet extraction provided the highest oil yield, with the oil being rich in linoleic acid (40.45% ± 0.17%-80.25% ± 0.16%), a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Despite the high PUFA content raising concerns about oxidative stability, both varieties extracted without solvent had peroxide value (9.62 ± 0.03 and 9.45 ± 0.04 meq O 2 /kg) below the recommended limits for cold pressed oils, and high levels of tocopherol, especially α-tocopherol (580.66 ± 0.27-837.61 ± 0.22 mg/kg), contribute to antioxidative protection. Also, the key nutritional indicators have highlighted this oil's health benefits. These fundings suggest that this oil is a promising source of dietary lipids, exhibiting excellent values for multiple nutritional indices, including the h/H ratio (3.50 ± 0.06-13.53 ± 0.013), the atherogenicity index (0.079 ± 0.002-0.39 ± 0.015), and the thrombogenicity index (0.211 ± 0.001-0.639 ± 0.01), suggesting potential advantages for cardiovascular health. This research contributes to determining the most appropriate production method for obtaining safflower oil with desirable quality and nutritional properties, thereby paving the way for the potential use of these oils in the agri-food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutic sectors.

The effects of feeding lambs diets containing two levels of almond skin on meat oxidative stability were investigated. Male lambs (n = 30, 2 months old, body weight 12.7 ± 2.07 kg) Valle del Belice × Pinzirita were assigned to 3 dietary treatments and fed ad libitum for 56 days with: a concentrate-based diet (CON) or CON containing 140 (A14) or 280 (A28) g/kg of dried almond skin in replacement of maize. Vitamins and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity were assessed in fresh meat, while colour and lipid oxidation were evaluated over 7 days of refrigerated storage. Data from fresh meat were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA, whereas shelf-life trial data were evaluated using a mixed-effects model. Almond skin inclusion affected the antioxidant capacity of meat, showing different results: Folin-Ciocalteu and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays showed a decreased reducing activity of the extract, while an improved radical scavenging activity was observed with the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Ferrous ion chelating activity (FICA) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays showed no differences. A reduction of the total tocopherol content was observed in A28 treatment compared to the others. Neither the colour nor the lipid oxidation was influenced by the dietary treatment, except for the TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances) values in raw meat, which tended to increase in A28 treatment. The study evidenced that 140 g/kg dietary almond skin in lambs may be a successful strategy for replacing maize without detrimental effects on meat oxidative stability.

Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant carotenoid, exhibits significant therapeutic potential, however its broader biomedical application is limited by chemical instability, poor aqueous dispersibility, and limited bioavailability. Lipid-based nanocarriers, particularly deformable vesicular systems such as transfersomes, offer a promising strategy to overcome these limitations. In this study, astaxanthin-loaded phosphatidylcholine transfersomes were developed using sodium deoxycholate, Tween 80, or D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate as edge activators, in combination with either ascorbyl palmitate or sodium ascorbyl phosphate as co-antioxidants. All formulations yielded nanosized vesicles with narrow size distributions (87-124 nm) and high entrapment efficiencies (>87%). In the optimized Tween 80-based system, the choice of co-antioxidant significantly influenced colloidal stability and astaxanthin retention, with ascorbyl palmitate preserving 87% of astaxanthin after 4 weeks. The vesicles demonstrated strong radical-scavenging activity comparable to free astaxanthin and showed no cytotoxicity at physiologically relevant concentrations in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, the optimized formulations effectively reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils and suppressed nitric oxide and TNF-α production in macrophages more efficiently than non-encapsulated astaxanthin. Collectively, these findings indicate that incorporation of astaxanthin with ascorbyl palmitate into deformable vesicular carriers enhances its physicochemical stability and potentiates anti-inflammatory redox activity, highlighting transfersomes as an effective platform for the delivery of redox-active carotenoids.

This study investigated the time-temperature stability of olive flounder by-products (OFB) to support their use as raw materials. Five parts (head, tail, skin, viscera, and trimmings) and a mixed OFB sample were analyzed for proximate composition, fat-soluble vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, and heavy metals. The mixed OFB was stored at 5, 10, and 25 °C for up to 48 h, while total bacterial count (TBC), pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), biogenic amines (BAs), fatty acid composition, and acid value (AV) were monitored and modeled using first-order and Arrhenius kinetics. Skin and trimmings showed the highest protein levels, whereas viscera had the greatest lipid and retinyl acetate content; α-tocopherol was predominant in most tissues. The major minerals detected were Ca, S, and P, and heavy metals remained below safety limits. During storage, TBC increased, and pH initially decreased with increasing temperature. At 5 °C, putrescine and cadaverine were the main BAs, whereas the histamine content was negligible; at 10 and 25 °C, histamine and tyramine content increased markedly, with histamine reaching 88.65 mg/kg at 25 °C, AV was low at 5 °C but exceeded rancidity thresholds at higher temperatures. Overall, the kinetic modeling indicated practical use limits of 30 h at 5 °C and 6 h below 30 °C.

Lawsonia inermis (henna) is a cosmetic popular plant and is used to dye hair, as well as decorate the skin. Nevertheless, this plant has also a great number of bioactive compounds that have great therapeutic potential. In this study, a comparative investigation of the chemical composition and biological activities of seeds and leaves of L. inermis collected from southern Morocco was conducted in order to explore their valorization potential. The chemical analysis fatty acids of henna seed oil showed a composition of 56.3% linoleic acid, 21.4% palmitic acid and 10.6% oleic acid. The unsaponifiable portion revealed a predominance of β-sitosterol (61.24%), while the tocopherol profile was dominated by γ-tocopherol (123.4 mg/100g), making it an excellent nutricosmetic product due to the composition of nutrients found in henna seed oil. The antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts was also noteworthy with IC 50 values of 9.1 µg/mL and IC 50 of 80.1 µg/mL being obtained in the case of DPPH and ABTS respectively although the seeds registered a little lower value, indicating the abundance of phenolic compounds. In addition, seed and leaf extracts had good antimicrobial activities with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) that fell below 10 mg/mL against bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Correlation analysis suggested a strong relationship between phenolic content and antioxidant activity, although this analysis was conducted on a limited dataset. These results indicate that Moroccan L. inermis seeds and leaves have high concentrations of bioactive compounds. They also highlight the potential of henna seeds as a novel source of bioactive ingredients for cosmetics or pharmacy products and have a good potential of natural therapeutic and cosmetic use.