Cosmetic Research

Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A that plays important roles in cell growth, differentiation, and organogenesis. Retinoic acid is a natural agonist of RAR nuclear receptors, with IC₅₀s of 14 nM for RARα/β/γ. Retinoic acid bind to PPARβ/δ with K_d of 17 nM. Retinoic acid acts as an inhibitor of transcription factor Nrf2 through activation of retinoic acid receptor alpha.

Estradiol (β-Estradiol) is a steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone. Estradiol can up-regulate the expression of neural markers of human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) and promote their neural differentiation. Estradiol can be used for the research of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and neural tissue engineering.

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, is a stimulator of recombinant SIRT1 and also a PI3K inhibitor with IC₅₀ of 2.4 μM, 3.0 μM and 5.4 μM for PI3K γ, PI3K δ and PI3K β, respectively.

Resveratrol (trans-Resveratrol; SRT501) is a CNS-penetrant natural polyphenolic phytoalexin that possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anti-cancer properties. Resveratrol (SRT 501) has a wide spectrum of targets including mTOR, JAK, β-amyloid, Adenylyl cyclase, IKKβ, DNA polymerase. Resveratrol also is a specific SIRT1 activator. Resveratrol is a potent pregnane X receptor (PXR) inhibitor. Resveratrol is an Nrf2 activator, ameliorates aging-related progressive renal injury in mice model. Resveratrol increases production of NO in endothelial cells.

Curcumin (Diferuloylmethane), a natural phenolic compound, is a p300/CREB-binding protein-specific inhibitor of acetyltransferase, represses the acetylation of histone/nonhistone proteins and histone acetyltransferase-dependent chromatin transcription. Curcumin is a photosensitizer against microorganisms. Curcumin shows inhibitory effects on NF-κB and MAPKs, and has diverse pharmacologic effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activities. Curcumin induces stabilization of Nrf2 protein through Keap1 cysteine modification.

Kaempferol (Kempferol), a flavonoid found in many edible plants, inhibits estrogen receptor α expression in breast cancer cells and induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells and lung cancer cells by activation of MEK-MAPK. Kaempferol can be uesd for the research of breast cancer.

Genistein, a soy isoflavone, is a multiple tyrosine kinases (e.g., EGFR) inhibitor which acts as a chemotherapeutic agent against different types of cancer, mainly by altering apoptosis, the cell cycle, and angiogenesis and inhibiting metastasis.

Apigenin (4',5,7-Trihydroxyflavone) is a competitive CYP2C9 inhibitor with a K_i of 2 μM.

α-Vitamin E ((+)-α-Tocopherol), a naturally occurring vitamin E form, is a potent antioxidant.

Rutin (Rutoside) is a flavonoid found in many plants and shows a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective and reducing Aβ oligomer activities. Rutin is also a CBR1 inhibitor, which can cross the blood brain barrier. Rutin attenuates vancomycin-induced renal tubular cell apoptosis via suppression of apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress.

Hyaluronic acid is a biopolymer composed of repeating units of disaccharides with various applications. Hyaluronic acid is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Hyaluronic acid is synthesized at the plasma membrane. Increased hyaluronic acid levels are associated with tumor cell growth, adhesion, migration, invasion and angiogenesis in digestive cancers. Hyaluronic acid participates in tissue remodeling and rapid cell proliferation in some physiological processes including embryonic morphogenesis and wound-healing. Hyaluronic acid activates the PI3K-Akt signaling. Hyaluronic acid acts as a regulator of cancer-associated lymphangiogenesis. Hyaluronic acid also enhances cell invasion and angiogenesis by promoting proteolytic MMP-9 binding to cell surface or stimulating MMP-9 binding to cell surface. Hyaluronic acid can be used as drug delivery for sodium butyrate to improve the anti-proliferative activity on breast cancer cell line. Hyaluronic acid can be studied in joint diseases, wound healing and cancer.

Gallic acid (3,4,5-Trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a natural polyhydroxyphenolic compound and an free radical scavenger to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Gallic acid has various activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticance activities.

Formononetin is a potent FGFR2 inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of ~4.31 μM. Formononetin potently inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth.

Ferulic acid is a novel fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 3.78 and 12.5 μM for FGFR1 and FGFR2, respectively.

Myricetin is a common plant-derived flavonoid with a wide range of activities including strong anti-oxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Daidzein is a soy isoflavone, which acts as a PPAR activator.

Caffeic acid is an inhibitor of both TRPV1 ion channel and 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO).

Astaxanthin, the red dietary carotenoid, is an orally effective and potent antioxidant. Astaxanthin inhibits NF-κB and down-regulates VEGF in blood glucose. Astaxanthin exerts anti-cancer cell proliferation, increases apoptosis, impairs migration and invasion by activating PPARγ and reducing the expression of STAT3. Astaxanthin also has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity and can be used in studies of cancer, diabetic retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, and in the coloring of animal feed.

Hesperetin is a natural flavanone that can be found in citrus, and acts as a potent and orally active broad-spectrum inhibitor against human UGT activity. Hesperetin induces apoptosis via p38 MAPK activation. Hesperetin displays a range of bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. Hesperetin is found to induce cell-cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Hesperetin can reduce Bcl-2 and enhance BaxM. Hesperetin induces apoptosis through inhibiting NF-κB receptor.

Fucoidan, a biologically active polysaccharide, is an efficient inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Anticoagulant, antitumor, antioxidant and antisteatotic activities.